Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 2/1
Following career year, Johnson preps for 2014
During his long career that has included stints as a player and coach at both the Minor and Major League levels, Ron Johnson has developed a no-nonsense approach that is shared by many other grizzled veterans of the baseball world.
As his son has spent the past few years establishing himself as a Major Leaguer, the elder Johnson has routinely provided guidance and support. At the same time, his understanding of baseball’s humbling nature has seemingly kept him from habitually extending too many compliments.
But after watching his son, Chris Johnson, nearly win a batting title and prove to be one of the most valuable pieces of a Braves club that won last year’s National League East title, the hard-nosed baseball lifer had no problem expressing his pride.
Keith Law releases Braves top-10 prospect list
Was Lucas Sims or Christian Bethancourt named the top prospect in the system? And why did J.R. Graham fall all the way to 8th?
Keith Law recently released his top-10 lists for every team in baseball. He took an in-depth look at the NL East, where only the Mets (6th) have a system ranked in the upper-third of baseball. The Braves are ranked 22nd, but that really isn’t an issue given all of the young talent they’ve graduated to the big leagues in recent years.
Atlanta Braves: Arbitration could make or break 2014
Right now, the Atlanta Braves have three of their most valuable players waiting on arbitration hearings to debate their salaries. Craig Kimbrel, Freddie Freeman, and Jason Heyward were anything but pleased with the offers set forth by the Braves’ organization.
Kimbrel, the Braves’ closer, led the National League last year with 50 saves. He was named Major League Baseball’s Delivery Man of the Year (best closer), beating out Baltimore’s Jim Johnson who also boasted 50 saves this past season. Kimbrel will have a lot to present in the hearing that will debate his salary. After all, he is the first Brave to ever receive the Delivery Man title, and is one of only 11 closers to attain a 50-save season. In addition, he is the youngest (25 years old) to ever achieve either one of these accomplishments.
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