Braves-Mets game rained out
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Plan and simple, it would have been extremely bad for the Atlanta Braves if this game started again last night. Not because the field was wet or because we were already getting beat 3-1…it’s because the Braves bullpen.
Even though it wasn’t a complete off day, it was the first time the Braves and manager Brian Snitker didn’t have to use the pen since their last rainout on April 25th. That’s a long stretch for the way our bullpen has been pitching.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Brandon Phillips and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back doubles. Freddie’s double plated BP to tie the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, these stats won’t count.
The rain came back in the 4th and the game was stopped. For two hours we sat around and waited for the rain to stop, but it didn’t. After the delay, Braves starting pitcher Jaime Garcia wouldn’t have gone back to the mound so the Braves would have gone to the bullpen…and that could have gotten ugly.
The previous rain out against the Mets, April 25, has been rescheduled for a doubleheader on September 25. No word yet on when this game will be played.
"The Braves’ game against the Mets on Thursday night at SunTrust Park was postponed by rain in the fourth inning and will be made up at a later date, most likely in June."
"Braves manager Brian Snitker looked at the positive aspect of the rainout: He didn’t have to use any relief pitchers and the Braves didn’t lose a game like they would’ve if five innings had been completed and they trailed."
"“It kind of gives the bullpen a day to breathe, which we’ve got three more days before the next off day,” Snitker said. “Obviously you want to play them and you want to win them, but we wouldn’t even have gotten four innings out of the starter (Jaime Garcia) today, because we would’ve had to go to the bullpen when we came back from the rain delay. And all those (relievers) that pitched last night were going to have to go again.”"
Next: Braves Call Up Sam Freeman To Help Bullpen
Braves-Mariners trades look good for Atlanta so far
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Seattle Mariners and the Atlanta Braves accepted two trades this past offseason. Braves GM John Coppolella and Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto swapped eight different players and so far so good for Atlanta.
Braves left-handed pitching prospect Luiz Gohara was the key piece in the trade that sent outfielder Mallex Smith to Seattle (and then quickly to the Tampa Bay Rays). Gohara has been sensational so far in 2017 with the Florida Fire Frogs. The 6’3″ 210-pound lefty has started six games in High-A and has made hitters look silly.
His fastball sits around 94-97mph with a very impressive slider. Ben Chase’s scouting report on Gohara says this…
"Gohara comes to the plate out of his delivery with a high knee lift, up to the letters. Out of his stretch, he uses more of an adjusted slide step, with his foot only reaching about mid-calf in height before he moves home.He comes from a low 3/4 arm slot in his delivery. His tuck on his lead shoulder allows for a bit of deception in making it more difficult for hitters to see the ball out of his hand.Gohara does have an excellent pick off move, and that has improved significantly as he’s lost weight as well and has more body control."
The Mariners signed this big lefty out of Brazil in 2012 for $880K, the largest bonus ever for a Brazilian player.
This big 20-year-old could make the jump to Mississippi this year…especially if he continues pitching like he is right now.
"Gohara has been perhaps the best pitching prospect in Atlanta’s system this season. He’s 3-0 with an ERA of 1.69 in six starts. He’s allowed 28 hits in 32 innings, six runs, seven walks and 30 strikeouts.Burrows is in the Rome bullpen. He’s got a 0.68 ERA in his first seven games, with nine hits allowed in 13.1 innings, six walks and 12 strikeouts.Jackson leads the Atlanta system with seven home runs. He’s hitting .284 with a .318 on base percentage, 17 RBI and five doubles. The Braves are finally seeing why Jackson was rated as the top-rated high school offensive player coming out of the draft a few years ago.Pike has been perhaps the biggest surprise in Atlanta’s system this season. He’s 2-1 with an ERA of 2.16, 22 hits allowed in 33.1 innings, 10 runs, eight earned runs, 12 walks and a system-leading 37 strikeouts."
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