I don't have any reason to believe he'd be a strong target, not this early. Just don't know this year.
After the initial discussion in the few days after the accident, it's not a subject that comes up around the big league club. I just know they're in a real tough spot dealing with all of it now, trying to plug all the gaps, etc. And we've been told none of the injuries were career-threatening. Sorry, but that's all I know. I'll try to remember to ask around, but we've got so much going on with the big-league club in past couple weeks, and that's 99 percent of our focus covering the team.
Improving. He looked raw defensively in spring training, at times. I'm told he's made strides since, and the ability is there for him to become at least an average or slightly above major league defensive OF.
Didn't see enough of Peraza in spring training to judge. Haven't seen him in minors, only in spring training. But I do know what I've seen in Peterson, and that's solid major league defense. Good hands and footwork, real good athleticism. Good range and arm.
Extended spring training games so far. And they don't keep official stats, so you wouldn't find those anywhere.
People forget they lost not one, but two contributors to PED suspensions. And they were really counting on Vizcaino, one of those suspended. And McKirahan had looked real promising before he got suspended. They'll be back after All-Star break. That could be big addition(s). Until then, or until they add a piece, they'll hope the key guys hold up and try not to overuse them, and fill in for the lesser roles with a shuttle to Triple-A.
Could see that, but Peraza to LF probably more likely in that scenario, since Maybin's CF defense is solid. Not Gold Glove, but solid. Lot of range.
That place is a mausoleum for games early in week against non-division rival like Braves. And yes, lot of Braves fans out here. It's like Florida, lot of transient people from other cities have relocated here, retired here, etc.
Got to be a spot for him before can join rotation. And they are NOT bumping Perez to 'pen if he keeps pitching as he has. We'll see if Perez keeps it up, but with each passing start it looks more legit. He's got stuff and deception, and he's got cojones and mound presence.
Yes, I do think EY will be odd man out, most likely. Fact that Cunningham started last night after Maybin got scratched said plenty.
They're not sure, either. Which is why they'll use coming months to keep evaluating Bethacnourt before making a decision on which direction to go and whether he's the answer.
That's the $64,000 question (although in today's game, that cliche might need to be changed to the $64 million question). But anyway, nobody knows with certainty, and if they say otherwise they're lying. But look at his numbers in Triple-A before he got called up. Better than any of the marquee prospects everyone talks about from Gwinnett.
At one game over .500 and 2 1/2 games behind the Nats 51 games into a season that everyone outside the organization called a rebuilding year? If he's on thin ice, I'd be interested to hear why. By that I mean, if they didn't fire him after last season, after two September collapses, why would you fire him when the current team is overachieving and hanging in the division race despite trading away three of its top four hitters and the best closer in baseball on the eve of opening day?
Could see him in September, but only if Braves are convinced it's not too soon. They won't rush him, but they also won't hold him back just to hold him back, if they believe he's healthy and could help in a potential playoff race. But that's a long way off. And yes, I hear he's got closer stuff. I remember him facing Braves and having a great arm, but can't honestly say if I think he'd be a good closer. Have to see him pitch again.
Yes. They've already signed several young guys, signings that generally go unannounced. But the international market is going to be far more important to them than it's been in recent years. That's why Gordon Blakeley was hired away from Yankees and given a staff of accomplished international scouts to work alongside him. They are going full-bear into international market, reasoning that it's cheaper to get potential star talent that way than free agency or the draft.
Probably from loss of strength after neck surgery in December. Dude couldn't lift weights or condition all winter. Inevitable that he'd have less power this season. Probably won't get that strength back till a full offseason of his usual weight work and conditioning. In meantime, Braves will take his avg, OBP, steady D and leadership-by-example.
They'll keep adding pitching, but also look for best player available. But pitching, pitching, pitching still the thing. Can't have too much, because if you do you can trade it to fill other holes later. Everybody wants pitching, and smart teams stockpile it knowing that.
I do not. I see him as a consistent .290-.310 type hitter in his prime, with 20-30 homers, and a few seasons better than that and maybe a few less than that. He could hit .325 with 35 homers and 120 RBIs, and maybe do it a few times if he keeps progressing. But I'd expect the .290-.310 I mentioned, with 20-30 homers annually and high OBP.
Haven't heard any inkling of that whatsoever. Why on earth would you trade such a pitcher when he's under contractual control four more years? This isn't the Marlins of the past decade, in perpetual rebuild mode.
All could be candidates if Braves have injuries and no clearly better options. But they won't rush Jenkins, and have a couple of prospects at Triple-A they could call up for rotation before him.
He's a major league player who's been up for parts of three seasons. And a catcher, at that. This notion from some who think he has to play every day in order to have a legit shot to show what he can do, I totally disagree with. He's gotten/is getting ample opportunity. This isn't a developmental league. They're trying to win. They wouldn't be in the position they're in today, above .500, if A.J. hadn't started so many games. I firmly believe that. The pitchers laud Pierzynski for what he's done with them. Wood just did again last night. Not to mention how many games he won or helped win with his bat in April when so many others were struggling.
Franchise is in really good shape going forward. They hoped to stay competitive this season, and so far they have. But beyond this season, they look to be in position to be a playoff contender for many years to come, due to all the pitching in the organization and several young position players. Gonna be a division contender next season, I think. And even better in 2017 when they move into new ballpark. Still need to add a position player or two, but lot of time to do that, and Coppy and John Hart have shown, again and again, how quickly they can move to do those things.
Yes. Contributions extend far beyond what most outside team understand. Even if we get scoffed at for trying to explain. Which I won't do, because I don''t feel like getting scoffed at before my third cup of coffee.
