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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Double Trouble, and Major Minor Moves

By Alan Carpenter

Jun 17, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Gant (52) walks off the mound after being relieved during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 17, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Gant (52) walks off the mound after being relieved during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Lucas Sims during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Lucas Sims during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Ellis Promoted, Lucas Sims Demoted, Ozzie Alibies… Second?

Transaction news from yesterday afternoon:

Good news for Ellis, but it comes with a mixed blessing:  he was set to be the starting pitcher for the Southern League All-Star Game coming up Tuesday in his home ballpark at Pearl, Mississippi.  However, that would probably cost him a AAA start, so the Braves promoted him early, and he will have to skip that honor.

Certainly, though, Ellis has earned the nod:  8-2 with a 2.75 ERA.  He’s walked 35 in 78.2 innings, but that’s a bit misleading, as he tends to ‘lose sync’ at times and walk a few in short spurts.  Once in rhythm, though, that problem goes away.

An example of that was April 23rd:  4 walks during a 1 hitter over 6 innings.  More recently, he walked 5 in another 1 hit effort that latest into the seventh.  But his stuff is playing well:  in only one start this year has he yielded more hits than innings pitched – and that being 6 hits in 5.1 innings.

Mauricio Cabrera has been named to replace Ellis on the All-Star squad.

Lucas Sims

More from Tomahawk Take

Sims comes back to AA where he had already thrown 14.2 innings early this season… with 10 walks.  That’s been the entire problem for him, as 26 strikeouts shows clearly that he has the out pitches.

But in AAA, that wasn’t working for him, and his 7.56 ERA over 50 innings/10 starts featured 37 walks and 56 hits.  That just isn’t going to get it done, so he returns to Mississippi.

Ozzie Albies

It wasn’t terribly surprising that Albies was playing second base while Erick Aybar was rehabbing at Gwinnett in recent days.  However, he’s stayed there since Aybar returned to the majors, in what could be a glimpse of his future major league position.

Or they’re just trying him out there to see how it goes.

Then again, with plays like this one from last night, Dansby Swanson is showing that he belongs at shortstop:

Next: Gant's Gem Stifles Mets

Even the Birmingham Barons tweeted this play out – they were impressed, too!

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