Morning Chop: Braves News 7/15
By Jeff Schafer
Freeman to miss All-Star Game
Jul 11, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman
Freddie Freeman(5) hits an RBI single in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
"Freeman jammed his left thumb on the first play of Saturday night’s 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons fielded Chris Heisey‘s grounder and threw slightly wide of first base, forcing Freeman to catch the ball in Heisey’s path. Heisey hit Freeman’s glove and was out.“I guess my thumb was in the wrong place,” Freeman said. “It’s just one of those freak injuries I seem to run into every year.”Freeman remained in the game. He wore a soft splint on his left hand and is not playing in Sunday’s game.He said there is “a little bit of tiny swelling” in the thumb.“I can still bend it and do everything,” Freeman said. “It’s not too bad, so I’m just going to take a day off and see how it goes.”"
John Rocker: Roids made for better baseball
"Former Atlanta Braves closer John Rocker, an admitted steroid user, is lamenting that they’re now “frowned upon” and longs for the days of 500 foot home runs and 101 mile an hour fast balls. According to Dayn Perry of CBS Eye on Baseball, Rocker told Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan radio station: “Honestly, and this may go against what some people think from an ethical standpoint, I think it was the better game. At the end of the day when people are paying their $80, $120 whatever it may be, to buy their ticket and come watch that game, it’s almost like the circus is in town. They are paid to be entertained. They wanna see some clown throw a fastball 101 mph and some other guy hit it 500 feet. That’s entertainment. You’re paying to be entertained."
Midseason injuries plague Braves heading into ASG
"How badly do the Braves need this All-Star break coming up? They’ve suffered four injuries in their final series before the week off, and BJ Upton has been placed on the disabled list.And now to top it off, after a record-setting number of votes (19.7 million of them!) in the All-Star Fan Vote, Freddie Freeman won’t even play in the All-Star Game. He injured his thumb during the first inning of Saturday’s game against the Reds trying to tag a runner out.To top THAT off, Brian McCann will replace Freeman on the NL roster. No, not Dodgers star Yasiel Puig-– he’s hurt, too. NL manager Bruce Bochy wanted a catcher, so he went with McCann, who was named the MVP of the ASG back in 2010. Apparently, Bochy hasn’t forgotten that is was because of McCann that the Giants had the home field advantage during their World Series run that year. That’s why he chose McCann. It’ll be his seventh appearance in the All-Star Game.“We lost a lot of key players,” said Gonzalez after Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the Reds. “The guys who stepped in did a terrific job for us. You feel good that we had a chance. Even today, we hit the ball hard. Anytime your back is up against it like we were, and the other guys respond, you feel good about your club.”"
All-Star Futures Game previews some of majors’ coming attractions
"Prospect hounds are different than most baseball lovers. Most of them couldn’t care less who leads the league in homers, whether Manager X made the right move to go to the lefty in the seventh last night, or what a raw deal Player Y received when he was left off the All-Star roster. They may be floored by the notion that Marlon Byrd is still wearing a big-league uniform, let alone that there’s a debate about whether the Mets should trade the resurgent slugger for minor-league talent (as I discovered while hanging out among some on Saturday). They’re focused on What’s Next, and the Futures Game is their midsummer classic, a chance to see the majors’ far-flung coming attractions gathered for a showcase on one field for one afternoon.On Sunday afternoon at Citi Field, the results of the Futures Game — a 4-2 victory for the U.S. Team over the World one — mattered less than the opportunity to absorb the sight of so many young players who have yet to hit the national stage. From last year’s game alone, 19 players have seen major-league service this year, including Gerrit Cole, Manny Machado, Wil Myers, Jean Segura and Zack Wheeler. What follows is a look at a handful who either made impressions at the game, or stood out in a few conversations I had with industry folks leading up to it. You’ll be hearing about these guys again soon; by this time next year, they could be all over this very blog."