(Non-GT)Atlanta Braves Baseball....new beginnings

[Buzzforlife]

To illustrate how sad the Braves offense can be... Freeman hit 2 HR's tonight for 21 total on the season, which is only good for 48 RBI's all together. He bats in the middle of the order with good individual production, and take away the homers, only Inciarte is usually on base.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Outfielder Jeff Francoeur and right-hander Jim Johnson were both placed on revocable trade waivers by the Braves this week, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, though their placements had very different outcomes. Francoeur cleared waivers and is now free to be traded to any team, whereas Johnson was claimed off waivers and ultimately pulled back after a trade could not be worked out.
Heyman doesn’t specify which club placed the claim on Johnson, but it’s worth noting that the Mets were said to have claimed a reliever earlier this week, and given the lack of news since the reporting of that claim, no deal was reached.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Mejia with 50 game hitting streak:
http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?sid=milb&content_id=1048420183

Where did you go Joe D.?

 

[BornAJacket]

Nationals still a big problem for the Braves

 

[Buzzforlife]

Going into Sunday's loss, we had a winning % of .379, the Twins were next at .397.
Many teams are still giving the Braves problems.

The race for the #1 Draft pick next June is looking good again!

 

[Buzzforlife]

Braves won Friday, 8-5.
Nats won 7-6 on Saturday, great comeback.
Yesterday was a 9-1 blowout.

One out of three is about our standard fare this season.

 

[BornAJacket]

Saturday was 7-6? Last I checked it was 7-1.

Probably ended the comeback bid on a silly base running error or something like that...

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Brewers announced today that they’ve acquired veteran catcher Michael McKenry from the Braves and assigned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs. While the Brewers’ announcement didn’t specify a return, it seems likely that the Braves will get some degree of cash considerations out of the swap.

 

[GTJT622]

Braves have a 3-game lead for the top pick in the draft over the Twinkies. And, wouldn't ya know it? In comes the Twinkies for a 2-game set at the Braves' house of horrors starting tonight. Just like recently when these 2 met up in Minnesota, it is good that these 2 only have to play one another twice and not a 3-game set. Fans should be subjected to as little of this as possible.

The Braves are 9 games under .500 on the road this season (and coming off a respectable 5-5 road trip). That's better than 7 other MLB clubs this season.

However, the Braves at home are 21 games under, the worst home record in MLB. The next closest ineptitude at home this season to date is the Diamondbacks who are 19 under. The Twinkies at 12 under are 3rd worst.

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Terrible Twinkies, and what does that make us? The Bumbling Braves? We do have youth on our side.

Somebody is going to win a game this week(on the bright side, from this 1990 W.S. matchup)!

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Tigers have announced a deal to acquire shortstop Erick Aybar from the Braves. Headed in return to Atlanta are infielder Mike Aviles and catcher Kade Scivicque. Detroit will receive cash in the deal, per David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). Tigers GM Al Avila declined to discuss details, but did offer that “it’s pretty even” in terms of the salaries involved, MLB.com’s Jason Beck tweets.

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Braves will promote top shortstop prospect Dansby Swanson tomorrow, according to a team announcement. President of baseball operations John Hart says that the youngster will be in the starting lineup tomorrow.

Omar Infante has been released.

 

[GTJT622]

The Braves will promote top shortstop prospect Dansby Swanson tomorrow, according to a team announcement. President of baseball operations John Hart says that the youngster will be in the starting lineup tomorrow.

Omar Infante has been released.

Best news I've read in a while. See what the kid can do. Let him take his lumps now while it doesn't matter to the team. He'll either flourish from day 1 like Bob Horner did right out of college, fail and then bounce back like most successful major leaguers do, or completely flop because he isn't good enough. Best to know the last one if that's the case...which, I optimistically believe will not be the case.

Braves picked up a game last night and have a chance to open up a 5-game gap tonight, though still keeping an eye on those dreadful Diamondbacks...you know, the team the Braves have been trading a lot with over the last 18 months. LOL!

 

[Buzzforlife]

Let's see if leaving Ozzie Albies down on the farm affects Swanson any? They have been playing at a few different levels together in the middle infield.

It was decided he is the SS of the future and O.B. is the 2B.

 

[BornAJacket]

surprised they couldn't move Infante for anything at all?

 

[Buzzforlife]

A few players of interest locally that have cleared waivers:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/atlanta-braves

 

[BornAJacket]

Braves trade of Aybar is a good move.

The Tigers have announced a deal to acquire shortstop Erick Aybar from the Braves. Headed in return to Atlanta are infielder Mike Aviles and catcher Kade Scivicque. Detroit will receive cash in the deal, per David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). Tigers GM Al Avila declined to discuss details, but did offer that “it’s pretty even” in terms of the salaries involved, MLB.com’s Jason Beck tweets.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Albies will be up in September. Jace Peterson will go back to being the super-sub.

 

[Buzzforlife]

So the Aybar trade was for the young catcher, only:
The Braves have designated infielder Mike Aviles for assignment, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweets. Atlanta also has activated catcher Tyler Flowers from the DL and placed fellow backstop A.J. Pierzynski there in his place with a hamstring injury.

 

[BornAJacket]

Swanson 2-4 last night. Nice MLB start for him. Let's see how long he can make his hitting streak go.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Coppy said he isn't worried if Swanson falls flat on it(he referenced a young star on another team starting out 1-32, right now).He wants to see if we can pencil Dansby in for next season. Claims you can't determine that in Spring Training. Toss him into real games vs. M.L. starters.

 

[GTJT622]

Coppy said he isn't worried if Swanson falls flat on it(he referenced a young star on another team starting out 1-32, right now).He wants to see if we can pencil Dansby in for next season. Claims you can't determine that in Spring Training. Toss him into real games vs. M.L. starters.

Amen! Especially for position players. I can understand holding back some of the pitchers on the farm for development. But, I say again, I think some of these old school methods of holding a lot of these guys back because that's just the way they've always done it in the past is goofy.

There are legit reasons for keeping a guy down of course. Right now, there are few reasons for the worst team in MLB. Great to see and good luck to DS. We need all the rays of sunlight for the future we can find right now.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Totally, totally in your camp with position players. No doubts!

For BAJ;
No way he(Coppy)gets anything for Infante. My buddy Steve Cowan(worked clubhouse before passing the Bar Exam and practicing sports law)can outplay Omar at any position. I know he could for softball, without hesitation.

 

[BornAJacket]

Totally, totally in your camp with position players. No doubts!

For BAJ;
No way he(Coppy)gets anything for Infante. My buddy Steve Cowan(worked clubhouse before passing the Bar Exam and practicing sports law)can outplay Omar at any position. I know he could for softball, without hesitation.

Not even a couple buckets of practice balls and a few bats?

 

[Buzzforlife]

Not even for the Greg Olson of now, former catcher for Smoltzie and company.
He partnered in owning a minor league team in Minn. after leaving Atl.
I'd be surprised if that squad needs Infante. Don't get me wrong, he was a valuable commodity in his day with Detroit and Atlanta. No bat speed or ability to turn two these days. Holes that can't be covered up.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Eric O'Flaherty has cleared waivers:
He is more affordable than Soria, with a $1.75MM base salary on the minor league deal he signed this winter, but his performance has been considerably worse. His ERA to date sits at a decidedly unappealing mark of 6.91, and while his 54 percent ground-ball rate is promising, his 22-to-11 K/BB ratio (plus two hit batters and three wild pitches) is less inspiring. While some might hope that O’Flaherty could at least be relied upon as a lefty specialist, he’s allowed same-handed opponents to bat .284/.329/.439 against him. The Braves were able to find a taker for Erick Aybar, so perhaps there’s hope that he could be moved, but even Aybar had a solid three or four weeks of production under his belt prior to being flipped (in a trade that saw the Braves take some salary back in the form of Mike Aviles). O’Flaherty has surrendered six earned runs in his past six innings, issuing more walks (six) than strikeouts recorded (five) in that time.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports kicks off his weekly Inside Baseball column with a look at the job security of a number of managers, noting that Mets skipper Terry Collins, D-backs manager Chip Hale and White Sox manager Robin Ventura could all be on the hot seat, while Braves interim manager Brian Snitker doesn’t seem especially likely to shed the interim label and keep his post. Other names mentioned include Mike Scioscia (Angels), Brad Ausmus (Tigers), Kevin Cash (Rays), Paul Molitor (Twins), Bryan Price (Reds) and Walt Weiss (Rockies), but none from that group seems to be eminently in danger of losing his job even at season’s end, per Heyman.

 

[stinger78]

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports kicks off his weekly Inside Baseball column with a look at the job security of a number of managers, noting that Mets skipper Terry Collins, D-backs manager Chip Hale and White Sox manager Robin Ventura could all be on the hot seat, while Braves interim manager Brian Snitker doesn’t seem especially likely to shed the interim label and keep his post. Other names mentioned include Mike Scioscia (Angels), Brad Ausmus (Tigers), Kevin Cash (Rays), Paul Molitor (Twins), Bryan Price (Reds) and Walt Weiss (Rockies), but none from that group seems to be eminently in danger of losing his job even at season’s end, per Heyman.

I think Snitker has done a pretty good job with this bunch. He's 35-49 (.417) in 84 games as manager. I think that's about as good as anyone could do in that circumstance. I'd like to see him stay next year, but I do realize the franchise is moving ans has to generate interest somehow.

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Braves have released righty Andrew Thurman, per Matt Eddy of Baseball America (Twitter link). The Astros took Thurman in the second round of the 2013 draft before ultimately shipping him to Atlanta in a January 2015 trade involving catcher Evan Gattis. Control problems have hampered the 24-year-old Thurman since that year, having failed to post a sub-5.00 BB/9 in stints at the High-A and Double-A levels. With Double-A Mississippi this year, Thurman threw 62 2/3 innings and compiled a 6.89 ERA, 7.47 K/9 and 6.75 BB/9.

 

[Buzzforlife]

In addition to the previously reported Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, James Shields and Scott Kazmir, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe adds Braves outfielder Matt Kemp and Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland to the list of veterans who have cleared waivers. Like the other four players, Kemp and Moreland are now eligible to be traded anywhere.

 

[Buzzforlife]

News on Brian McCann...
...Matt Kemp, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/atlanta-braves

 

[BornAJacket]

Braves jump out to a big early lead but the bullpen can't hold the lead.

Even tied it up again in the 9th and can't get to extra innings...

 

[BornAJacket]

good win last night. Kemp with a big double in the 8th when the bases were loaded, scoring 2 runners! That's the clutch hitting that was missing in the Monday game.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Neither player the Braves acquired were top 30 in their respective organizations. Both were 2015 draft picks.

The Marlins announced tonight that they have acquired outfielder Jeff Francoeur and cash considerations from the Braves in a three-team deal that also involves the Rangers. The Braves will acquire minor league shortstop Dylan Moore from the Rangers and minor league catcher/first baseman Matt Foley from the Marlins. The Rangers, meanwhile, will receive three international bonus slots — two from the Marlins and one from the Braves — that total $860K in value.

 

[BornAJacket]

Good luck to Francoeur, seems he gets traded every year these days. I wonder how much longer he can stretch his career as a journeyman MLB OF?

 

[stinger78]

Good luck to Francoeur, seems he gets traded every year these days. I wonder how much longer he can stretch his career as a journeyman MLB OF?

So we're down to recycled Frenchy for players with "value?" I suppose that only Teheran and Freeman are exempt at this point.

 

[BornAJacket]

seems that's so. from the April lineup who do you think is still on the market?

 

[stinger78]

seems that's so. from the April lineup who do you think is still on the market?

LOL. Who else has market value? Markakis was rumored to be shopped a week or so back. I'm sure Mallex and Inciarte would have some marginal value. Peterson, maybe just a tad. Flowers may have some, but not until he shows he's back to normal. The only real trade value left are Teheran and Freeman, and they're "untouchable."

 

[BornAJacket]

that's my thoughts as well, they certainly are not finished rebuilding.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Braves consider promoting high-end infield prospect Ozzie Albies when rosters expand next month, writes Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Atlanta already called up shortstop Dansby Swanson, who figures to be half of a long-term double-play tandem with Albies, but he’s three years older than Albies, notes Bowman. The 19-year-old Albies, whom Baseball America, MLB.com and ESPN’s Keith Law all regard as a top 20 prospect, hit an excellent .322/.394/.446 in 325 Double-A plate appearances this year, but he hasn’t been as effective at the Triple-A level (.248/.307/.351 in 247 PAs). Albies has combined for 27 stolen bases, though, and has posted similar strikeout and walk rates at each level.