Grilli's back isn't a chronic thing. Us old guys have back issues at times. He's not been slowed by it in past, so I wouldn't expect it to crop up again on any regular basis, now that he's through this (or nearly through it) and will have a better idea how to stay on top of it to try to avoid a repeat. But yes, I could see Boggs getting a call at some point, maybe sooner than later. It's why they added him, for experience.
Nice. I guess you and I had a different view of last year's team. Good guys, but very hard to watch play nightly.
Nothing. As of last week, he hadn't resumed throwing and there was no timetable for him to do so. Braves person I asked didn't know if he'd have exploratory surgery or not. If he does, he's probably out a couple more months even if no damage found.
Not arguing with your statistical analysis. But I know watching them nightly, this offense is exponentially better to watch, has a far better chance of coming back from early deficits, and does not feature 3-4 nightly glares at umpires after called third strikes and slow, painful-to-watch walks back to the dugout.
Move hurt a lot, since it caused them to shift Grilli to closer and diluted the setup corps, etc. No doubt. But if that's what it took to dump B.J.'s contract and eliminate that issue hanging over the team, and also get a good pitching prospect (Wisler) back in the deal, I think most would say it's worth it. The Braves certainly would.
Could definitely see him becoming a hitting coach, maybe in another couple of years. Things can change quickly, but Seitzer and his assistant Castro have done a great job with the Braves so far, and everyone in management is pleased with that hire.
Fredi wants to let him focus on second base, since things are going well for him there. Doesn't even plan to play him at shortstop if/when Simmons eventually gets a day off. Before season he talked about playing Peterson at short some to give Simmons a day now and then. But now he's so pleased with Peterson's play at 2B, doesn't want to disrupt it by having him think about other positions, etc.
Don't know, but haven't heard any discussion of trading him or even possibility of trading him. They like everything about Peterson and how he fits this team.
Yes, they are. But starting pitching shouldn't be. No one could have or should have anticipated the early struggles of Teheran or even Wood, though the latter pitched so well couple days ago, there's plenty of reason to believe he'll turn things around quickly.
Honestly -- and I'm just being honest here, means nothing either way -- I haven't heard his name mentioned in clubhouse once since about two days after the trade.
Not the case. The Braves challenged the blocking rule because that is the way to get both parts of the play reviewed -- the tag (whether he was safe or not) and the blocking rule. If they had only challenged whether he was safe, umps wouldn't have reviewed the blocking rule. This was announced in pressbox afterward, and an MLB ruling on the play was also released to us writers. I can't help it if anyone said on air otherwise, but they were wrong, according to Reds official who got the ruling. Also, Fredi had said early that an umpire explained to him last year that in that particular play, if he challenged the blocking rule the umps would review both parts of the play, but not if he challenged the out/safe ruling and not the blocking rule.
Only that it's supposed to be real similar to current dimensions, fair to hitters and pitchers and slightly favorable to pitchers, if to either.
A few days ago Fredi said he had just started hitting balls off tee, etc. I'll ask again today.
Here was the ruling, as relayed by Reds director of media relations Rob Butcher:
From MLB:
After reviewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official determined that no violation of the home plate collision rule occurred and that the runner was tagged prior to touching home plate. The call is CONFIRMED, the runner is out.
For rotation? Banuelos or Wisler.
Generally bad (press box). Generally good (locker room).
We do this chat every Tuesday at 11:30. I do about half of them. Usually lasts one hour, or slightly more. And thank YOU for participating. And with that, we're out, folks. Much appreciated. Great questions, as always. Thanks to you all. Stay passionate. Peace.
You mean the '80s Braves?
Have heard of no plans whatsoever to sell. That could change quickly, of course, but Liberty reportedly is pleased with its investment, particularly with the new ballpark on the way. I'd be surprised if they sold before that ballpark comes to fruition, if they believe value will continue to rise when ballpark and surrounding village are operating beginning in 2017.
It's certainly been a more enjoyable one to cover. Better baseball, and as you say, they're capable of coming back from deficits. Last year's team would get down 3-0 and just trudge through the rest of the game, piling up strikeouts and not posing a comeback threat unless they got a flurry of homers once in a great while in those situations.
Last update was that they didn't expect him to be ready to play games at Gwinnett until around All-Star break. I haven't heard that he's back in Florida. Very complicated mess. Was in Florida briefly, then fled again for some reason I'm not quite clear about or at liberty to discuss.
Is this a thing, to spell losing "loosing"? I only ask because I see it so often on Twitter and elsewhere Online, always wonder if this is a joke I'm not in on.
No, I would not have. Of course, I didn't quite expect Shelby Miller to be leading major league starters in most categories at the quarter pole, either. Thought he'd be good, but more a strong No. 2 or No. 3 starter than an ace. So far, he's been a bona fide ace.
