“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.†– Winston Churchill
Are we turning a page in the rebuild? In quick succession, Lucas Sims, Ozzie Albies, and Max Fried have joined Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb, and a shortstop to be named later on the major league roster. Age 30+ guys Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia, Sean Rodriguez, Emilio Bonifacio, and others are gone; Adonis Garcia injured and largely forgotten.  Furthermore, there also has been a groundswell of promotions at the minor league level.
It was Sims on the mound today, battling nicely to stick around 6 innings after allowing 4 runs in the first.  The first started decently enough, with a Miguel Rojas flyout followed by hitting Giancarlo Stanton with a pitch, and therefore stopping him at first base.  But Christian Yelich walked, and back to back home runs by Marcell Ozuna and J.T. Realmuto would be all the Marlins would need, or get.  Sims allowed 6 hits and 3 walks, and recorded 3 strikeouts (a caveat: all 3 K’s were against Marlins pitcher Jose Urena.)
Urena allowed 3 hits in 6 innings of his own and allowed the lone Braves run, as Jace Peterson‘s double marked his 2nd pinch hit in as many days, and preceded Ender Inciarte‘s single.  Brandon Phillips made a couple of nice plays at 3rd, and Ozzie Albies was about 3 biscuits short of hitting 2 opposite field homers to left center.  (I’m not sure if those kind of flyballs from him are good or bad.)
If the Braves have indeed opened the valve on the prospect pipeline, it still may be closer to symbolizing the end of the beginning of the rebuild than the beginning of the end.  Folty is looking good lately, but it’s taken him 3 seasons in Atlanta to get here, and it’s unknown if the ultimate winners of Survivor: Gwinnett are even in the majors yet.  Just saying it could still be awhile folks, but if the front office will at least give us the end of the beginning, I’m all in.
Off Monday, then the Phillies come to town on Tuesday.
The 3rd funniest thing I ever heard about Miami: Â Anything less than the best is, at most, a misdemeanor. At most.
Re: Ozzie, I’m going to go ahead and raise my hand with “it’s probably more bad than good.”
Ironically, I’m going to be right on Albies except in reverse. He actually does have power but can’t hit major league pitching.
He’ll be lucky to stay with the big club.
Shameless plug, y’all:
The finals of the US Open ultimate frisbee tournament are being broadcast live on ESPN2 right now. You should check it out if you have time. It’s a great sport–I play competitively and coach a college team. Worth a look to take your mind off of Braves roster anxiety and getting Snitkered.
Somebody in the previous thread asked about Sean Rodríguez. Well, here you go:
I asked sarcastically and antagonistically since we just traded him. Yeah, still not over it.
Touki today
5IP 1BB 9K (don’t ask re hits and runs – somehow he can live in two worlds at once)
Touki’s curve
only now do we observe
will spin while still in his hand
departs thereafter under his gyroscopic command.
William Contreras
2 base stealers today have said that he dared us
threw both of them out
3 multi hit games, back to back, better shout.
105 AB, 15K
trade all of the others away.
Slugbauer
pure power
any position
chiselled condition.
Off Days
malaise
Recreate
Date?
Max Fried
has suggested we secede
from the Appy League
where he learned nothing but political intrigue.
Luiz Gohara
avis rara
three fifteen
we have no idea where he’s been.
It’s that time of the month for a Joey Meneses update:
Last 10 games at Mississippi he’s batting .364 with a homer and 5 walks against 33 ABs.
@6, Perhaps Touki’s problem that game was more with the defense playing behind him? Errors from Meneses and Demeritte, only 3 of his 6 runs earned.
@12
Welcome John R..i was beginning to wonder!
Re Touki, yes, that apparently was the case. He continues to fascinate.
Clerihews…does it help to see a whole block together? nothing to do with the quality but as you read through them some kind of metre emerges. And whimsy of course, the hardest thing to describe on these shores.
You do good work, Rusty. Thank you.
Edward
extreme frisbee?
so that’s where you is be
return to Sorrento
be more than a lasting memento!
@14
Rusty…the funniest thing Churchill was known to say, of a political opponent-
‘A modest man, with much to be modest about.’
I add my thanks to coop’s.
@13, One thing I picked up on about Touki from one of those “top 30 prospect” lists you read on the internet but are never sure if the writer has any credentials for real analysis: For much of this season Touki’s been pitching solely out of the stretch. His numbers out of the windup were solid but once somebody got on base his results would diminish. Apparently they spent a lot of time working on that and he’s shown progressively better results over the last month or so. Maybe that’s why they promoted him: he fixed a problem and proved highly coachable. That’s something!
I’m desperate to get that guy’s name on an Atlanta jersey.
Drew Lugbauer, our 11th round pick this year, is killing it.
Don Baylor died. Our best hitting coach ever.
Aww man…RIP Don Baylor.
@17
Yes. It’s funny how sometimes one’s involvement with a prospect can move from the rational to the emotional and then, in some cases, to desperation. Know it well.
@18
new name now Smitty, Slugbauer…sad about Don Baylor, seem to remember him having a pretty good run managing the Rockies…Cubs too?
There is a significant amount of intrigue and excitement about Touki. When he is on, he is electric, and I did also hear that they’ve worked with him primarily from the stretch. His FIP also suggests that he’s advancing from being a raw hurler in previous years to being a more complete pitcher. His walk rate went from 6.1/9 in ’15 at A- to 4.83 in ’16 at A- to 3.59 earlier this year at A+ to 2.45 in his short sample at AA. While doing that, his HR rate has gradually declined as he’s advanced and his K rate increased significantly. He is doing everything you’d want a prospect with #1 stuff to do.
@14, 16 – thanks guys.
MALLEX WATCH!
He’s been able to play close to full-time since Kevin Kiermaier’s injury, so things have been going well for ole Lil’ Rock. In 201 PAs, he’s produced a .7 fWAR. Over a full season, we’re looking at a 2+ fWAR player, and that’s while his defense continues to not grade out well. One would assume he’ll continue to develop his range and route-taking, and that will become another positive impact to his game.
By comparison, Nick Markakis has a .1 fWAR in 464 PAs and Matt Kemp has a 0.0 fWAR in 372 PAs, so we definitely picked the right outfielder. The Rays have no problems playing Mallex in a corner but we felt like paying Kemp and Kakes almost $29M to play the corners. Sweet.
So that we all know that I’m wrong but enjoying the ride on the Rock Raines comparisons, Rock produced a 6 WAR season in his age-24 season (Mallex’s current age), and he had already accumulated 6.5 WAR before that season. Mallex will have to become a Gold Glove defender, develop a little more power, and extend his peak longer than Raines’, whose ended after his age-29 season. With Mallex’s skill profile not likely to age well, I’m not holding my breath.
Is SEC football previews still a thing around here? I can do Florida’s if there’s good representation from other good football schools, Vandy, and Tennessee.
Florida. I may throw up.
Watching them win so many SEC East championships can get nauseating.
I’m an Aub interviewing for a job in Gainesville, FL today so I’m conflicted.
I can do Tennessee
@28
Wear the gear, Chief – don’t back down.
It has been a while since Hershel.
I’m dreaming of a waiver trade: http://blog.walkoffwalk.net/2017/08/a-waiver-trade-match-from-heaven.html
I’ve got UF, and Smitty has UT. Traditionally, SEC schools and other southeastern schools geographically have been previewed. I think there’s also been some schools that are near and dear for some commenters (Yale?).
Does anybody else want to volunteer to do their team? They would be posted at the end of August/early September, so no rush.
@1,2
Oh, good lord! That’s too much even for my taste. The man has been here a week. Methinks we might have to wait until next season before we start even making overly early prognostications.
@4
LOL…because of course he did.
Get it done, ryan c.
@29
By the way, Smitty, if you ever decide you don’t want to/can’t do the Tennessee preview in a given year for whatever reason, I’d be happy to.
Probably better you do it this year, though, anyway, as I’ve been pretty much trying to avoid most UT news this offseason. Wading through the jungle of negativity that is most UT sites after the debacle that was the second half of last season makes me tired just thinking about it.
LOL…if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Howie Rose isn’t a fan of Sunday Night Baseball
http://tinyurl.com/ycddn35q
@37, Skip is somewhere smiling.
blazon at 16,
I actually think the funniest thing that Churchill ever said was to a critical woman at a dinner one night. I think for some reason it was the Astor heir who married into the peerage.
She said “You sir are most definitely drunk.”
Churchill replied. “Yes ma’am, I am. And in the morning, I shall be sober. But in the morning you will still be ugly.”
Stu, would you like to preview Vandy’s football season?
@39
definitely on the short list.
I will take Auburn, AAR.
@ 25/29/36/40
from an outsider…
how much are you guys paying your Head Coaches? Sets a good example does it? You comfortable with that?
Medlen is getting hit hard again.
Sean Rodríguez is starting at SS for the Bucs tonight, and he looks pretty good.
@44 Medlen will never pitch a productive inning for the Atlanta Braves. He was ‘done’ for a reason…
@43 4.5-5M.
Do I like it, no. Do I think its ridiculous, absolutely. Is the university a fool to NOT do it, yes. The football program has so many peripheral positive affects to a university. Somebody said that if Alabama paid Saban 20M per year they’d be underpaying him for the value that he brings the university, etc.
Do I like the system that we have, heck no.
@47
Chief, thanks for all that info…get the job?!
OFF NIGHT QUIZ FOR THE OVER FORTIES
When Chris Berman was still very much the man at ESPN he achieved a deserved notoriety for his puns on player’s names, inserted between the first and last names. The one that was generally considered his best came to mind the other night when i realized he(the player) was doing color for an MLB game broadcast.
The player concerned was still active at the time of Berman and, unusually, his ascribed nickname had 4 words – thus that plus his real first and last names added up to six words. No one under 40 please..haha.
Two gone today. Darrel Daulton RIP. Always admired the hustle.
@48
CORRECTION
FIVE SYLLABLES NOT SIX!
CORRECTION #2
five WORDS not syllables. It’s getting late.
Mike “the man who would be” Kingery (???)
I fear the Kris Medlen train is stalling in Gwinnett.
@52
Good one. I had in mind Jim Deshais. Does that help recall what was in the middle?
@52
big clue https://youtu.be/G80FZzgJDoU
Lance “Oh Darn, I sunk my” Blankenship?
Well I cheated and googled Chris Berman Jim Deshaies… won’t give the answer away. I just don’t happen to remember that one. .. NEVER would have gotten it.
I remember a few of them, Eric “ker” Plunk, for example.
the thrill is in deshais
I do recall a Ryan ‘I wish I had’ Langerhans on a nearly-robbed home run, which was pretty good. And that’s as much as I’ll ever defend Berman’s calls.
see @55
Jim two silhouettes on Deshais ….really very good
had forgotten Eric ker Plunk…lovely
Langerhands…excellent too
the thrill in deshais…pretty damn good.
How about an informal Braves only(incl minors) contest among ourselves thru the weekend. Work backwards from the last names, firsts don’t really matter.
Here’s one to start-
Ozzie be all you can Albies
I assume you mean the crime dog?
@61
who/what is that question directed to pse? Can see no McGriffs.
I meant the Bermanism for us old fogies
so was it Berman who came up with that one?
here’s another
Touki three’s company Toussaint
I prefer game day Braves Journal. #getoffmylawn
I always liked Scott “Supercalifragilisticexpiali” Brosius.
Every Christmas has a Grinch. I was never fond of Berman or any “journalist” who made themselves the story. Like Etta said, please accept my apology.
@67, Make room for multiple Grinches. While the Berman puns are/were undeniably clever, they were nonetheless extremely intrusive. Bad puns are still bad puns, they’re not always welcome, particularly in mass quantities.
You’re playing with fire, John “Where the Wild Things” R.
According to the ESPN oral history, a whole lot of people at ESPN hated Berman for the same reason — he was kind of a prima donna, and the network decided that they never again wanted to allow on-air talent to be bigger than the brand.
Bert “be home by” Blyleven
Tyler “you don’t bring me” Flowers
@71 Like it, but shouldn’t it be be Bert “be home” Blyleven?
Yeah, I messed it up. First mistake I’ve made in my Braves Journal history.
@69, You got me, Ed “Mental” Ward!
Eddie “eat drink and be” Murray
Bravesjournal – best thing on the internet!
@76, Doubtlessly due in part to the game recap talents of the likes of Rusty “Look at that” S. “Car go!!”
Jeff “see-through” Blauser.
Damon “I get my thrills, on blue” Berryhill
Well, a veritable outpouring…great stuff.
Otis “I am not a crook” Nixon
John “off his” Rocker
Chipper “I hardly knew her” Jones
Why is Dansby playing second base?
@70 And that is most likely a big part of why ESPN the brand is in decline. Apart from the personalities offered exclusively through their network, what quality content do they provide? Zilch, IMO. I don’t know many, if any, who actually like ESPN.
I could tolerate them when they were fun to watch, because that’s what sports are supposed to be: fun to watch. Their opinions OTOH have always been detestable if you don’t live in the northeast.
@81 Puzzling. Is it safe to assume that the FO don’t like his SS defense?
They see him as a future utility player?
Last year I thought he was a better fit at 2B. I still think so. But if he doesn’t hit he won’t play anywhere. So we gotta fix that first and foremost.
Dansby “Like Swan Father, Like” Swanson.
Been on the road and unable to watch the past couple weeks. How has Adams looked in left? Total nuclear Armageddon, or just a milder natural disaster? Haven’t seen it discussed here but I might have missed it.
@77 I was a little slow to get that.
@88, I can’t think of a play he botched yet. I’m sure he hasn’t looked great out there, but it’s not like LF defense even matters…he needs to hit to justify his presence anywhere. There’s been a bit of cooling off in that department.
@82 because a future .245/12/55 guy that can’t field looks a little better at 2B.
Except for his hair, that still looks amazing!
@89, I rewatched Trading Places just a couple nights ago. It was on my mind:
@92 – Never gets old.
Jose ‘Take me on a sea’ Cruz
I know it doesn’t really matter now, but the insistence of Snitker to hit the powerless Markakis 4th or 5th every night is very annoying.
@90 Thanks. That’s more or less what I had figured. And yeah, if he isn’t hitting anymore the whole question is basically moot.
Did Camargo just tear an ACL running onto the field?
Small detail in light of what just happened, but why is Jace not playing second?
MLB Network says he hyperextended his knee. Looks like that little hop over the white line did him in.
It’s ironic that he injured himself AVOIDING stepping on the line. You’d think that if the baseball gods were punishing you with a freak accident, it would be because you stepped on the line.
Needless to say, this is Epic Barves.
Brandon Phillips is a pretty good third baseman. I’d want to resign him to play third except the organization has probably alienated him now and probably made him not want to return.
Ozzie hit it hard, but Galvin continues to plague the Braves.
Does it matter if Julio is “cost controlled” if he stinks? Mediocre would be s huge improvement
Time to cut bait on Julio. Put him in the bullpen and call up someone else. Hard to imagine he could be a part of the next good Braves team.
Teheran stinks and Snitker worse for leaving him on …
Dansby was pulled, so I guess his week in AAA will have to be enough.
I’m starting to think Julio and this park don’t agree.
As for Dansby, so much for remedial education.
At some point, Teheran has to work his way into the bullpen. Or have a fairly quick hook with him with a long reliever like Fried in the pen. We can’t let him get us down 5-6 runs before Snit steps in.
Sam Freeman? WTF? What does Fried have to do to get in a ballgame?
Seriously! Free Max “Fried to Be You, Freed to Be Me”!!!
Galvis is one heck of a ball player. Without him we would have gone ahead 3/0 with Freddie’s homer. Lovely soft hands, brimming over with self confidence at short, the anti Dansby.
Let’s let Acuna play shortstop.
@113 or pitch
Wouldn’t it make sense to put Albies at SS for a few games? So much for letting Dansby work on his fundamentals.
With the tying run at the plate, I’m so glad we have Danny Santana up instead of a guy who had 3 HRs in 38 ABs with a rushed rehab.
No, I’m not going to get over it. I’m not going to get over an expectation to put the best roster on the field 2 1/2 years into a rebuild. You can’t make me! I’m my own man!
Max Fried is here.
Pretty curve there for strike three.
That hook!
Nice first inning of work. Solid fastball with bite, sharp curveball, but wild at times.
Fried could definitely be a good late inning reliever if he doesn’t pan out as a starter.
Fried in the majors is so surreal. Never been this invested in prospects before. It’s strange how randomly this all seems to be happening.
I’ve really enjoyed Newcomb’s and Fried’s debuts. Sims doesn’t do as much for me since I don’t think he has a very high ceiling. Fried looked really strong.
@121
I think you could say that about many of our pitching prospects.
Wait, we double switched so that our last pinch hitter would be needed sooner? I have got to pay more attention.
Newcomb has got to find a solid 3rd pitch (hopefully he becomes more comfortable with his change up) or he will eventually be relegated to the bullpen.
Bowman says that it’s a bone bruise for Camargo and the MRI did not reveal any structural damage. So that’s good news.
10-14 days out for Camargo.
You shouldn’t go 2-10 against any team. I don’t think we’d win 10 of 12 against Gwinnett. Having to watch a whole roster of barely capable utility players for another 2 months is more than I can take. At least football starts soon.
Let this be a lesson to anyone who believes that any of this superstitious bullcrap is harmless. It will destroy the world. Next time there’s a no-hitter going, you’d damned well better say so, lest a meteor burst through your ceiling and strike you in the top of the head.
Johann Camargo
Has doctors from Atlanta to Fargo
All offering the same prescriptions
“Stay away from silly superstitions”
Johan
le petit Can Can
but apparently he can’t
C’est La Vie – so why bother to rant?
Johan Comargo
Baryshnikov on chalk
balk.
Bryse Wilson pitched 7 strong innings for Rome last night: 4 H, 1 BB, 11 K, zero runs. He’s 9-5 on the year with a 2.48 ERA. Guess he’ll end the year there and he hasn’t done anything but succeed in a Braves uniform.
But the real story from the minors last night was a combined no-hitter in Danville. And, hey, it was our guys that threw the no-no! Future Atlanta All-Stars Bruce Zimmerman (Round 5, 2017), Jacob Belinda (Round 10, 2017) and John Curtis (Round 8, 2017) allowed nary a hit and only a single walk over 7 dramatic innings. (It was a doubleheader.) Drew Waters went 2 for 4 with a double. Kevin Maitan was back in the lineup finally, going hitless as DH. (Guess he’s had a nagging injury?)
Simba .306/.361/.459 11HR 17SB’s 4.6WAR this season
We traded this guy because the returning talent was too good to pass up. Aybar, Ellis, and Newcomb.
“We need more talent,” Coppolella said. “We think all three players in the trade will have an impact on our major league team for the 2016 season.”
“You can make an argument that we’ll win more games with Aybar,” Coppolella said. “This wasn’t a prospect trade. This was a value-for-value trade with two really good prospects in it.”
When Teheran first came up, I thought he was a AAAA pitcher. Pretty early on, I felt like his lack of movement on his fastball (IMO it is as straight as an arrow) and his inability to work down in the strike zone would never allow him to be successful long term.
While I think that Lucas Sims has the mentality to pitch in the major leagues, resiliency and drive, I don’t believe he has the talent. His curve is good enough but his fastball is not and he can’t locate it well enough long term.
Fried is wild as hell but his ball moves a foot and his curve when on is probably fringe plus plus.
What you are seeing really is the reality setting in that we really never ‘had’ 15 pitching prospects, we really have 2 or 3. The rest are just long relievers/AAAA guys but that’s the history of baseball for you.
Smoltz, Glavine and Avery is going to happen about once every 35 years or so.
I think Folty is about the only person guaranteed to be in our rotation next year. Newcomb, Dickey, Teheran, and Sims could all be part of different trades or back in AAA next season
New thread.