Atlanta Braves Christmas Daytime Chop

Bullpen Re-make May Not Be Done

We have consistently noted that the Braves definitely have issues with the 40-man roster. Mark Bowman tweeted this yesterday afternoon as one possible means of assistance with that dilemma:

At this moment in time, the 40-man roster actually has just 39 names on it.  However, things will get a little cramped – though I think the Braves will be able to successfully stall any changes until sometime during the first full week of January.

At roughly that point, the following names will have to be added:

• Jason Grilli
• A.J. Pierzynski
• Dian Toscano

Toscano’s addition to the 40-man may be able to wait a little longer, since he’s currently in visa limbo.  For the others, only the scheduling of a physcial stands in their way.

CANDIDATES TO BE MOVED OFF

Eventually, two more names need to come off the list, and maybe three if the team is successful in acquiring another starting pitcher.  Clearly, the Braves are exploring options to move Luis Avilan via a modest trade.  Other similar trade candidates could include Joey Terdoslavich, Tyler Pastornicky, and Juan Jaime.  Besides these, DFA candidates would include Jose Constanza, Todd Cunningham, and Ian Thomas, possibly also Elmer Reyes.    

Christmas traditions are special to [Shelby] Miller

MARK BOWMAN / MLB.COM (excerpted – see link for full story)

FanSided

MLB.com:

Did your family always go skiing during the holiday season?

Miller: Yeah, usually a day or two after Christmas we would always go to New Mexico or Colorado. It was always fun to go skiing with a bunch of the family members. We’d all carpool out there and rent a house or a condo. It was just great to be together during that time of year.

MLB.com: Are you still good with the skis or a snowboard?

Miller: I haven’t been [skiing] since I signed [with the Cardinals] in June of 2009. But I’m sure I could go out there and hold my own.

MLB.com: Now that you’re married, do you still spend every Christmas with your family in Texas?

Miller: This year, we did Thanksgiving with Amy’s family. So, we’ll do Christmas with mine. I know with most marriages it goes back and forth. We’re just going on our second year of being married for Christmas. We might change the arrangement over the years. But for right now, we’re just pretty much playing it by ear.

MLB.com: Are there any favorite traditions in your household?

Miller: My mother still makes cookies for Santa Claus. I’ve got a 6-year-old sister who still believes. So, Santa Claus still comes to our house. Opening presents is kind of a big deal for us.

MLB.com: What was the best present you got as a kid?

Miller: You never forget the excitement of waking up and going to the tree to see what you got as a kid. Growing up, I got a lot of great presents. I got a go-cart one year and a cellphone. There was always that one big gift that we got that we really, really wanted. The go-cart stands out to me.  

Social Wrappings

From all of us here at Tomahawktake.com, Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you for making us one of your resources for Braves’ news and events. We sincerely appreciate it!