Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 10/11
Oct 3, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves fan Jamie Owens and his sons Jett Owens, 9 months, and Jayce Owens, 4 years old (left) prior to game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Morning Chop: Tomahawk Take’s Summary of Atlanta Braves News
Atlanta Braves news: Reviewing the Best & Worst of 2013
The Atlanta Braves had their 2013 season end sooner than they had hoped, as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ come-from-behind 4-3 victory in Game 4 ended the Braves’ chances at advancing past the National League Division Series, something the organization has not accomplished since 2001.
Although the end of a season is always disappointing, the Atlanta Braves did in fact have a very impressive season, one that saw a team overlooked by the likes of the Washington Nationals post an overall record of 97-68. With that in mind, it is time to take a look at what Braves Country experienced over the last six months, both good and not so good:
The Good
Full Throttle Through the East – Chosen by most to finish second in the NL East behinds Bryce Harper and the Nats, the Braves hit the ground running to start the season, going off on a 12-1 start and for the most part never looking back. Indeed, Atlanta led the NL East every day of the season except for on April 4th, reeling off winning streaks of ten games and fourteen games at two different points in the season in a year that saw the team completely dominate their division rivals and win the East by 10 games, their biggest margin of victory since 2004.
Duane is in crisis
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Where in the hell do I start?
OK. The Braves took a jackhammer to my heart and soul again. And I’m so confused and hurt and angry. I’m angry at Frede and the team, and I think I’m even angrier at the media and other people who are angry and downing my Braves. Because, dammit, they’re my…our….Bravos. And by God, I love ‘em as much as ever. Then again, I’m in a — what do you call it? — a confoundrum. They not only ruined my week, month, hell maybe my year, but they also got me fired from my job at the adult superstore off I-75 near Griffin.
Which leads into a whole nother but related story. Hells bells. Might as well explain. I reckon it all ties together in one way or another, like a big web of intreegism.
Arizona Fall League Recap: Day 2
3 different Braves pitchers were shelled last night en route to a lopsided loss.
Salt River Rafters 12, Scottsdale Scorpions 2
- Aaron Northcraft, SP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
- John Cornely, RP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
- Shae Simmons, RP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- Elmer Reyes, 2B: 0-4, 2 K
Not exactly a banner day for Braves pitching yesterday. Aaron Northcraft drew the start for Scottsdale and was chased in the third inning after allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Silver lining: He did fan 4 batters. John Cornely came on in relief and was even worse, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks while only managing to get 2 outs. Shae Simmons relieved Cornely and also allowed 2 hits and 2 walks in 2/3rds of an inning.
On the offensive side, Elmer Reyes was the only Brave who drew a start. He went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.
Atlanta Braves Organization Discussion
SB Nation – Minor League Ball
I am now working on the 2014 Top 20 Prospects list and 2014 Baseball Prospect Book comments for the Minnesota Twins, to be followed by the Atlanta Braves,Kansas City Royals, and San Francisco Giants. Use this thread to discuss the Atlanta Braves system.
Some points for community discussion:
***The Braves organization is known for pitching development, and they got strong results in 2013 from Julio Teheran and Alex Wood. Do you see any pitching prospects ready for immediate contributions in 2014? Cody Martin? Aaron Northcraft? Sean Gilmartin? Ian Thomas? These guys don’t seem like they can have the same kind of impact, and we have to see how J.R. Graham‘s health holds up. What about David Hale? He looked very good in his cup-of-coffee.
***The best long-term pitching prospect in the system is Lucas Sims, who had a strong season in Low-A. What is your timetable for him? How long would you leave him at High-A if he pitches well?
***The hitting looks thinner than the pitching. What is your timetable for catcherChristian Bethancourt? And is Tommy La Stella for real?
Braves fan writes congressman
[Editorial Note: No, I didn’t miss this one. I was just trying to wait for the shock to wear off! LOL. If you missed it, read and ask yourself how dedicated a fan you are.]
After the Atlanta Braves won 96 regular-season games this year, the expectation in The A was that the Braves could return to their pennant-winning ways of the mid-to-late ’90s.
But the Los Angeles Dodgers had high hopes themselves entering the postseason, and quickly and painlessly dusted the Braves in the NLDS, finishing the job with a dramatic 4-3 win in Game 4 Monday night at Chavez Ravine.
However, that wasn’t good enough for one Braves fan named Paul Kaplan, who was so disgruntled over Atlanta’s early exit that he wrote his congressman, Rep. Jack Kingston, on Tuesday hoping that there might be a way to, perhaps, breathe a second life into the team’s World Series hopes.
Here’s Kaplan’s government shutdown-themed letter, which was written with tongue firmly in cheek,via Hardball Talk: