Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 2/4
By Jeff Schafer
Braves: No big moves, but plenty reason to believe
Atlanta led the majors with a 3.18 ERA overall, and Braves starters (3.51) ranked sixthamong 30 teams. Among Braves who made 10 or more starts, the team’s top four starters ERAs belonged to Medlen (3.11), Teheran (3.20), Minor (3.21) and Wood (3.54), ahead of Hudson (3.97 in 21 starts).
Aug 10, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Alex Wood (58) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Between the addition of Floyd, the return of Beachy and Garcia, and the experience gained by rookies Wood and David Hale, it’s easy to see why this Braves rotation, paced by incumbents Kris Medlen, Julio Teheran and Mike Minor, could be as good or better than last year.
“Any time you lose a guy like Tim Hudson from your pitching staff, with the knowledge he has and as many years as he’s played, it’s obviously going to hurt,” All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel said. “But we saw at the end of the year, when he went down, we had a lot of guys step up and fill those shoes and grow a lot. And I think that’s only going to help for the season coming up.”
But what about the team not making any big moves, unlike others including the division-rival Nats?
“We were pretty good last year,” Kimbrel said. “A lot of the core guys who were all together and played a lot of innings and pitched a lot of innings, are back this year. We went out and got Floyd. That’s a good guy to put in our rotation. When he’s on, he’s really good. I think that is a big move. It’s not a big money move, but strategy-wise, it’s a big move for our ballclub.”
Atlanta Braves Rumors
As MLBTR’s Arbitration Tracker shows, there are 22 remaining arbitration cases that have yet to settle. Among those, some of the most likely to go to hearings are those of the Indians and Braves. GM Chris Antonetti of Cleveland says that his club is highly likelyto see at least one hearing, while Atlanta counterpart Frank Wren has insisted that all three of his team’s cases will not be negotiated further. Here is the latest on those arbitration situations:
If nothing changes the position of the Braves, then the team is headed to three hearings in one week over mid-February. As David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports via Twitter, Freddie Freeman ($5.75MM vs. $4.5MM) is scheduled for February 11th, Jason Heyward ($5.5MM vs. $5.2MM) for February 13th, and Craig Kimbrel ($9MM vs. $6.55MM) for February 17th.
Special packages announced for Atlanta Braves Exhibition Game
Special packages announced for Atlanta Braves Exhibition Game
ROME, GA. — The Rome Braves and the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) will be offering special promotional packages as a part of the Atlanta Braves Exhibition Game set for Saturday, March 29, 2014 at State Mutual Stadium.
The Atlanta Braves will play the Braves Future Stars team, which will be comprised of players from the Rome, Gwinnett and Mississippi farm teams. The Braves Future Stars will be managed by Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Cox, former manager of the Atlanta Braves.
Packages for the weekend of the game go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 4. All packages include a one-night stay (Friday or Saturday) at a local hotel, two club level tickets to the exhibition game, and a special gift.
“This is certainly an unprecedented sporting event for Georgia’s Rome. Bringing the Atlanta Braves here to play—and welcoming some of the past Rome Braves home—is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all,” said Ann Hortman, director of the Rome Sports Commission at the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Participating hotels include Country Inn & Suites, Econo Lodge, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and Holiday Inn Express. Packaged rates range from $178 to $278, all taxes included.