Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Minor League Openers
TomahawkTake.com
Rome Braves
The pitching was excellent – defense a bit iffy: starter Max Povse went 5 innings, striking out 7 against 2 walks and 4 hits. That’s often good enough, but 3 errors behind him led to 3 runs – 2 unearned. Braxton Davidson went yard for his first homer as a pro, but he also was responsible for two of those errors. Rome only mustered 4 hits and scratched out 3 runs (helped by 5 walks), but were beaten by Asheville 4-3 at home.
Carlos Salazar pitched 2 strong innings in relief (no hits, 3 K, 1 BB) and Zach Quintana yielded 1 run in the final 2 frames. SS Ozhaino Albies had a tough start: 0-4 with 2 Ks.
Carolina Mudcats
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
The pitching was good here as well… too good: the Mudcats’ first game as a Braves’ affiliate didn’t go as hoped. The Mudcats were no-hit at home in High-A Carolina League action at the hands of the Salem Red Sox, who won 2-0 in seven innings (rain). Jake Dahlstrand did the deed over six innings. The game was called after 1 out in the bottom of the seventh.
The last Carolina League no-hitter? Aaron Northcraft‘s gem for Lynchburg (Braves) against Salem in 2012.
Yean Carlos Gil pitched well – 2 earned in almost 5 innings (one homer among 5 hits, no walks and 4 K). Blair Walters followed him, giving up nothing – no hits or walks, 1K. The lineup featured Joey Meneses, Dustin Peterson, Jose Briceno and Johan Camargo. The offense only K’s 4 times, but walked just twice while getting – of course – no hits on the night.
Mississippi Braves
Ever have one of “those” nights? The AA M-Braves also took it on the chin last night, falling 7-2 to the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs).
How odd was this one? Mallex Smith walked twice… and was picked off twice. The best bright spot was probably third base prospect Rio Ruiz: 2 for 4 – both doubles, though one almost left the yard.
Jason Hursh started this, but went just 3 (3 runs allowed, 2 earned, 3 hits, 1 K and 4 walks). Ian Thomas and Ryan Weber filled in the gap nicely – splitting 4 innings, striking out 5 and giving up absolutely nothing else between them. Justin Jackson was tagged for a run in the 8th on 1 hit, 1 walk, though K’d a pair.
Information tweeted by Kyle Tait contributed to this report.
Gwinnett Braves
Yes, I’m afraid it was an organization anti-sweep... Gwinnett was beaten in a tough one 1-0 by the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay) via six strong innings from Dylan Floro (1 hit). Our Michael Foltynewicz took the loss, giving up just 1 earned in 4 innings. 3 hits (one being the deciding home run) and 2 BB were mixed in with seven strikeouts. Sugar Ray Marimon went 3 perfect innings (2K) and Michael Kohn finished the other 2 innings – 2 hits and 1 K).
The Gwinnett offense only managed 3 hits on the night: Cedric Hunter, Eury Perez and Jose Peraza getting them. The rest of the lineup reads like the late innings of a Spring game: Todd Cunningham, Joe Benson, Elmer Reyes, Pedro Ciriaco, Sean Kamar, and Braeden Schlehuber.
Sources: milb.com team pages except as noted.
Feb 16, 2014; Lake Buena Vistas, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher
Brandon Beachy(37) stretches during warm ups at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Former Braves teammates know all about Tommy John revision surgeries
JERRY CRASNICK, ESPN.COM SR. WRITER
…
The second go-around was more painful — both physically and emotionally. A year ago March, Medlen felt a stabbing sensation in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson in the Grapefruit League. Medlen knew something was wrong, but he bit his lip, dug a thumb into his forearm to keep the pain to himself, and threw two more pitches out of pure exasperation before calling it a day. Before the athletic trainer even reached the mound for a look, he bolted for the dugout with tears in his eyes and his head spinning with doomsday scenarios.
“Everything was good,” Medlen said. “Curveball felt good. Changeup felt good. Guys were off-balance, and I was getting them out. Then I throw that changeup, and it’s like a knife was stabbing me. I guess I was in denial. So I threw two more pitches and the knife just twisted and twisted again. It was excruciating.
“I’m thinking, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ You fight your entire career to establish yourself and get a rotation spot. I was coming off a solid year and everything was coming together. And then it happens again. I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening to me.'”
…
[ Ed. note: lots more at the link above – I recommend the entire piece to you ]
Way-Too-Early-to-Project-Anything Stats
(data from fangraphs.com)
After 3 Games…
- Braves are #2 in defense (behind Padres… barely – that can’t last)
- #10 in Offense (5th in NL)
- #8 in runs scored
- #5 in strikeouts committed (15.8%; Astros are at 37.5% – yikes!)
- #7 in walks accepted (9.6%)
- #4 in OBP (.342)
- #3 in team ERA (1.00)
- #1 in ground ball % (56.7%)
- #4 in LOB% (88.9%)
- #1 (tie with 4 others) in HR’s allowed
…and on pace for 162 wins. Still.
Home opener tonight vs. Mets!