Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop and Box Score 8/27

Baseball Reference

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Notes:  Justin Upton continues to swing a hot bat in the second half of the season and he is quietly moving himself into the NL MVP talk.  He’s raised his batting average to .292 and has 25 home runs.  The Braves are getting hits now but just can’t get the clutch hit when they need it.  We are almost down to one month in the 2014 season, the Braves HAVE TO start winning consistently.

CBS Sports

Lagares, Gee lead Mets to 3-2 win over Braves

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Notes:  I guess I must be behind on this story but supposedly Juan Lagares is the real deal in New York.  If you’re like me, you were very impressed last night…if you already know about him, than you saw him take down the Braves on Tuesday.  Alex Wood pitched well but Dillon Gee pitched better for the Mets.

"Lagares hit a two-run homer and ran down one ball after another in center, sending Dillon Gee and the Mets to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.Gee stopped the longest losing streak of his career at five games, outpitching Alex Wood in the opener of a three-game series. Lagares, one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, scurried from gap to gap and finished with seven putouts.”That’s Lagares, man,” Gee said. ”We expect that from him now. Unbelievable center fielder. Makes great plays. … I’d be hard-pressed to find anybody better. He’s unbelievable. He’s fun to watch.”"

Gwinnett Braves

Phil Gosselin Named IL Postseason All-Star

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Notes:  The 25-year-old utility player was promoted to the Atlanta Braves on July 26 but is still getting recognized for his great play in the Braves minor league system.  For the Braves, he is hitting .304 with one double, one homer, six runs scored and two RBIs.  Gosselin looks like he could be a key piece in the Braves lineup moving forward.

"In an announcement made today by the International League, former Gwinnett Braves infielder Phil Gosselin has been named to the 2014 International League Postseason All-Star Team. Gosselin, currently with the Atlanta Braves, was selected as the IL’s All-Star Utility Player.According to the IL announcement, Gosselin received votes as a second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, outfielder and designated hitter. He is the first Braves’ farmhand selected as the All-Star Utility Player since Randall Simon of Richmond in 1997."

.

AJC

Expect B.J. Upton trade talks to be revisited

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Notes:  The annoying ringing in your ears…is probably the words “B.J. Upton starting in center field”.  The trade that didn’t happen with the Braves and Cubs is still getting talked about all over but now that the trade deadline has past, it’s time to move onto the winter.  What will the Braves do with B.J.?  For now, that’s uncertain but a trade this winter could be very possible.

"Upton will be owed about $47 million during 2015-2017 in the last three seasons of his five-year, $75.25 million contract. You’re familiar with his work.This is what I’m told about where it stands going forward: The Braves will try to trade Upton this offseason – personally, I think it’s just about a fait accompli that he’s gone before spring training – and that they might do it by including Minor in a package. In other words, they’d tell a team, you can have three years of contractual control of Minor before free agency, but you’re going to have to take B.J. Upton in the deal. It’s uncertain if the Braves ultimately would part with Minor, a quality lefty who has shown again in recent starts how effective he can be after struggling for much of the season to regain his form following medical issues in the winter and spring."