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Atlanta Braves: Why Josh Tomlin; And GM Promises Surprises in Pitching Staff

By Fred Owens

The Atlanta Braves signing of Josh Tomlin isn’t what fans were hoping. GM Alex Anthopoulos hoped to cheer them up by promising pitching surprises when the Braves head north next week. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves signing of Josh Tomlin isn’t what fans were hoping. GM Alex Anthopoulos hoped to cheer them up by promising pitching surprises when the Braves head north next week. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves righty Wes Parsons seems to have taken the next step and looks ready to join the Braves’ bullpen. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

The bullpen without Sam

The biggest news from the bullpen this spring comes in the form of Wes Parsons. In 11 IP, he’s allowed three hits, struck out 10, and walked one.

The GM’s quote seems made for him as does the vacancy left by Freeman. The rest are a mixed bag.

Name IP H ER HR BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
Jesse Biddle 8.67 10 3 0 4 7 1.615 10.4 4.2 7.3 1.75
Shane Carle 10.3 10 4 1 1 11 1.065 8.7 1 8.7 9
Luke Jackson 8.67 11 7 0 4 10 1.731 11.4 4.2 10.4 2.5
 Wes Parsons 11 3 0 0 1 10 0.364 2.5 0.8 8.2 10
Chad Sobotka 7 6 8 2 6 8 1.714 7.7 7.7 10.3 1.33
Arodys Vizcaino 5 4 4 1 1 8 1.000 7.2 1.8 14.4 8
Jonny Venters 7 6 2 0 0 4 0.857 7.7 0 5.1
Dan Winkler 5 4 1 1 2 5 1.200 2.3 4.5 9 2
Josh Tomlin 15 12 8 3 2 9 0.933 7.2 1.2 5.4 4.5

I added Tomlin to this list to make comparison easier.

There are nine on the list, meaning at least one will go before the season starts.  If Tomlin doesn’t pitch well on Saturday, he might be gone pretty quickly. And if he does pitch well, Jackson could go.

When A.J. Minter and O’Day return, two more will get tickets to Gwinnett.

Strong spring showings from a quartet of young starters, a revitalized Teheran and the emergence of Parsons give Anthopoulos respite from an offseason so slow, they made Cecil Turtle look like Roadrunner.

The bullpen is well stocked even if no one knows who closes should Vizcaino stumble and Minter have a setback, yet the only reliever signed so far is lightning a bottle project Tomlin.

The other bit of good news from the bullpen was the departure of Sam Freeman to Gwinnett and off the 40-man roster.

Next. Winter hibernation perhaps. dark

Two final bits of good news to close this out.  Austin Riley had another good day, hitting his second homer in two days and it seems Ozzie Albies bat is coming around.  That should make everyone smile this evening.

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