Morning Chop: Braves News 5/2
By Jeff Schafer
Previewing the Atlanta Braves Month of May
"The Atlanta Braves finished the month of April with a 17-9 record and 4.5 game lead over the Washington Nationals in the National League East. Considering the Braves played 16 games on the road, they should be thrilled with the start. Here’s what lies ahead for the team in the month of May.Opponents: Nationals (2), New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants (4), Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Mets, Toronto Blue Jays (4), Nationals.Splits: 14 home games, 15 road gamesSeries to Watch: May 13-15 at the Diamondbacks"
Braves rookie: ‘All I could think about was killing myself’
April 27, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher
Evan Gattis(24) in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
"Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis sits back in front of his locker and shuts his eyes as he considers divulging one of the darkest, most intimate secrets of his life.When he opens them again, words trickle out of his mouth, bringing back the anguish and torment of three days in the summer of 2007 that he says nearly ended his life.“I was in a mental hospital,” he tells USA TODAY Sports. “I couldn’t sleep for an entire week, and I knew something was wrong with me. So I got admitted. I was so depressed, all I could think about was killing myself.“I wanted to kill myself for a long time.”"
Atlanta Braves Star Catcher Brian McCann To Rehab in Gwinnett
"Brian McCann is coming home to get ready for his 2013 baseball season.The veteran Atlanta Braves catcher, a Duluth High grad, will begin a rehab assignment with the Gwinnett Braves beginning Thursday, May 2, the G-Braves announced Wednesday (May 1).McCann, 29, underwent shoulder surgery last October, and already has played in some rehab games with the Class A Rome Braves in 2013. He has a .279 career batting average with 156 career homers with Atlanta."
Tuesday’s Atlanta Braves Minor League Action
"Gwinnett Braves 2, Indianapolis Indians 9Todd Cunningham CF – 3-3 .253 AvgJordan Parraz LF – 1-4 2B(2), 2K, .276 AvgJoe Leonard 3B – 1-4 3B(1), RBI(8), K, .194 AvgDusty Hughes 1.1 IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K 6.52 ERADaniel Rodriguez pitched just three innings and gave up seven runs. His 14.2 scoreless inning streak came to an end quickly in the first and it didn’t get much better from there. He walked six batters, gave up a bases loaded triple, and allowed a run to score on a squeeze play. Suffice to say it wasn’t a great night for him. The offense was up against the reanimated arm ofFrancisco Liriano, who appears to be pitching well this season. The Braves mustered just four hits off of him in six innings along with nine strike outs. Each of the three relievers the Indians brought in struck out two as well leaving the strike out total at 15 for the Braves."