Apr 23, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (24) hits a two-RBI double in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: While the Atlanta Braves’ pitching has been a thing of beauty, the bats are another thing altogether at times. The Braves are managing to win games, for now, but down the stretch there will need to be more consistency with getting them on and getting them in if Atlanta hopes to continue its current pace. Here’s the boxscores for both pitching and hitting, from yesterday’s afternoon game, courtesy of Baseball Reference:
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS | Pit | Str | PO | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Heyward RF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .198 | .605 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 0 | |
| Andrelton Simmons SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .297 | .794 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .338 | 1.038 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 0 | GDP |
| Chris Johnson 3B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .256 | .652 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| Ramiro Pena PR-3B | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .235 | .786 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Ryan Doumit LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .160 | .352 | 25 | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dan Uggla 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .227 | .627 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 2 | HBP |
| Jordan Schafer CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .214 | .571 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| Evan Gattis PH | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .298 | .936 | 3 | 2 | 2B | ||
| Craig Kimbrel P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Gerald Laird C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .200 | .583 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 1 | |
| Aaron Harang P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | |
| Jordan Walden P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Justin Upton PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .299 | .927 | 5 | 3 | |||
| Luis Avilan P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| David Carpenter P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| B.J. Upton CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .205 | .582 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Team Totals | 31 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 12 | .226 | .572 | 153 | 98 | 27 | 4 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | BF | Pit | Str | Ctct | StS | StL | GB | FB | LD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Harang | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0.85 | 24 | 101 | 69 | 39 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Jordan Walden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2.16 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luis Avilan | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.10 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| David Carpenter, W (1-0) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.89 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Craig Kimbrel, S (6) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.24 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 1.00 | 35 | 145 | 97 | 51 | 26 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 2 |
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: Every team, every year, needs to strengthen weak spots in their lineups, due to injury, trades, and a host of unexpected setbacks in performance. The Atlanta Braves are no different, and Bleacher Report takes a look at some of Atlanta’s farm system players who are most likely to see some playing time in the big show this year.
Atlanta Braves Minor Leaguers Who Will See Time in the Majors This Season
"Taking a careful eye to the Atlanta Braves’ major league roster, there are just a few noticeable holes. The reason Atlanta is 14-7 and in first place in the National League East with the best run differential in the National League is because its roster is skilled in many departments. However, the Braves are by no means perfect.Areas that remain a concern are starting pitcher depth, bullpen arms, catching defense and second base."
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: Evan Gattis‘ two run double propelled the Atlanta Braves over the Miami Marlins in the final game of the series for the two teams, giving the Braves the series win, and reminding fans of Evan’s value to the Atlanta Braves. CBS Sports takes a closer look…
Gattis’ two-run double in eighth lifts Braves
"ATLANTA — Fredi Gonzalez appreciates Evan Gattis’ easy approach at the plate.”He’s got a short, simple swing,” the Atlanta Braves manager said. ”If you talk to him about hitting, he feels like he’s the one who gets himself out most of the time, but it sure is nice to give him a day off and still bring him in for a pinch-hit situation to impact the game.”Gattis pinch hit and broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run double off A.J. Ramos, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 Wednesday for their ninth win in 12 games."
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: One thing you may have missed, which Craig Davis of the Sun Sentinel did not, is that while some teams might be trying to pitch around the dangerous (this year) Giancarlo Stanton, the Atlanta Braves didn’t flinch when Stanton came to the plate…
Braves challenge Stanton; others pass
"Last weekend Giancarlo Stanton became the second Marlin to be intentionally walked in every game of a series three games or longer as the Mariners gave the Marlins slugger the Barry Bonds treatment.But while Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon approached Stanton with the reverence once afforded Bonds, who received a ridiculous 120 free passes in one season, the Braves weren’t been reluctant to challenge the Marlins’ most dangerous hitter, who went 2 for 12 in this series."
Tomahawk Take Editorial Note: One things if certain, if opposing teams facing the Atlanta Braves bring a phenomenal pitcher to the mound for any game in a series, there could be a duel, but if not it’s not likely that Atlanta’s starter will be the one falling short on making such a duel. Braves’ pitching continues to be lights out, and Fangraphs looks at just one of the most recent matches that was a duel…
The Pitchers’ Duel of the Season, At Least
"The best and the worst thing about baseball is that, during the season, it’s almost never not going on. Every single day brings a new slate of games, and if you actually step back and think about it, it’s kind of overwhelming. The Brewers are off to a hot start, at 15-6. All they have left is another 141 baseball games. The upside is that, if there’s a lousy baseball day, there could be a better baseball day right around the corner. The downside is that, if there’s an incredible baseball day, in a short amount of time it’s yesterday’s news. Baseball allows for only so much time to reflect."