Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 9/7
Sep 6, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Cody Asche (25) celebrates with first baseman Darin Ruf (18) after defeating the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Braves 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Tomahawk Take’s Morning Chop – News From Around The Net
Smasched Potatoes: Phillies 2, Braves 1
Cliff Lee and Cody Asche stepped in and told those stupid Braves to shut the hell up for once.
Will B.J. Upton hit over .200? Is this series merely an excuse for the Phillies to scout Brian McCann? Is Cesar Hernandez a center fielder yet? Say, is that a section full of Miss America contestants? Why? Don’t think, just send Gregg Murphy to interview them! Evan Gattis! Is he still a thing!
And all the rest.
Security made the questionable decision to let the Phillies onto the field, and away we went. As the saying goes, “I sure hope the Phillies win this game, not because of much in the long term, but because those three seconds following a Phillies victory are the happiest parts of my day. Hell, I’d go so far as to say they’re all I live for anymore. Also, did you know Chipper Jones is a dickhead? Hey, my wife’s gone; pass the soda can full of warm, flat beer I keep inside that hollowed out book. Don’t tell anyone. Just kidding, I know cats can’t talk.”
Will The Braves Seek To Extend Their Young Core?
It’s no secret that Atlanta plays home to one of the best collections of young, established big leaguers in the game. The Braves have steamrolled back to the top of the NL East this season, led by that youthful core. Even as the team focuses on the coming post-season, it is worth considering whether, and when, Atlanta will follow the baseball-wide trend of locking up talent through early extensions over the coming offseason.
The list of reasonable possibilities is extensive, and impressive: first baseman Freddie Freeman; Andrelton Simmons at short; outfielder Jason Heyward; maybe even third-bagger Chris Johnson. Then, there are the pitchers: Craig Kimbrel, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, Jonny Venters, and Julio Teheran could all make sense, either now or in the foreseeable future. These players — eight of the team’s top nine in terms of fWAR (excepting the injured Beachy and Venters) — have all yet to reach their second year of arbitration.
Jason Heyward Joining Atlanta Braves Soon Would be Great for Him
Via Rant Sports
There are few things in Major League Baseball scarier that seeing a player get hit in the face with the baseball. So many bad things can happen from such a play that everyone in the game wishes it would never happen. Well it does happen and it happened to Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward a few weeks ago. The result for him was a broken jaw but he was lucky that it wasn’t a terrible break that required his jaw to be wired shut. Now it appears that Heyward might be able to return much quicker than anyone assumed. Considering the situation, that would be great for Heyward.
Will Braves Fans Embarrass Atlanta Again?
When the Atlanta Braves started their long run of excellence in the early ’90s, Braves fans just couldn’t get enough. Season ticket sales soared and playoff tickets were at a premium.
I remember the World Series in 1991, when Braves fans felt lucky if they could find a scalped ticket for under $1,000. I’ve never been around a team that had the hysteria surrounding it like the ’91 Braves. Without a doubt, that 1991 World Series was the toughest ticket that the city of Atlanta has ever seen, and probably ever will see.
All 30 MLB Farm Systems’ Most Disappointing Prospect in 2013
Atlanta Braves: SP Sean Gilmartin, Triple-A Gwinnett
(21 G, 20 GS, 4-8, 5.06 ERA, 65 K, 91 IP)
The Braves first-round pick in 2011 out of Florida State, Sean Gilmartin looked to be on the fast-track to the majors last year when he posted a 3.84 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 157 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He’s dealt with injuries this season, though, and has taken a step back in his overall development. He’ll look to position himself for a 2014 call-up with a bounce-back season next year.