Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – SAT 9/20
Minor League Awards Night Tonight
Jason Hursh and Jose Peraza have been announced as the Braves’ minor league pitcher/player of the year, and will be honored before tonight’s game.
Hursh went 11-7 for Mississippi with a 3.58 ERA and 83 strikeouts (43 walks) over 148 innings. Interestingly enough, the stats suggest that he may not have even been the best pitcher on his own club, as Williams Perez had a 2.91 ERA over 133 innings with more K’s and roughly the same walks (1.19 WHIP was better, too). Beyond that, Greg Ross has a 2.80 ERA in 157 innings at 2 stops – and he was better after being promoted to AA (110K/38BB/1.14 WHIP overall). But what do I know?
Jose Peraza, Sept. 1, 2014 with the M-Braves. Mandatory photo credit: Alan Carpenter, TomahawkTake.com
Jose Peraza was clearly the breakout player of the season. Between Lynchburg and Mississippi, Jose raced to 60 steals, a .339 average, .806 OPS and .364 OBP with 11 triples over 469 AB. He only struck out 60 times… continuing a trend of putting the ball in play consistently… though hardly walking, either (18 times). He witched to second base this year and seems to be an outstanding defender as well.
Hursh could have a shot at the rotation next year – at least early on, depending on the injury-recovery progress of Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy – never mind whatever happens this off-season. Peraza will probably start in AAA, though again – his career may jump forward depending on how the Braves wish to handle their surplus of middle infielders.
Our reporter-on-the-scene, Ryan Cothran, tells us that AA third baseman Kyle Kubitza is also on site in the hotel with Peraza, so perhaps he will get some hardware tonight as well.
Star Wars Night – and the Braves joined the Dark Side
Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy were the forces last night, Murphy going 4-5 while Duda homered despite being struck out on 3 other trips. In the meantime, hometown-returning Zack Wheeler continues to have easy outings vs. Atlanta, scattering 5 hits and 2 walks in a 5-zip victory.
Yes… the Braves were shut out again. That’s 14 times this year.
The Braves had no help to offer Julio Teheran, who is now 13-13 despite a 2.88 ERA. His only error was a hanger to Duda. Jordan Walden accounted for the other 3 runs, which finished off the Braves in the 8th.
Jason Heyward (22). Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
In a symbol of just how bad it’s been, Justin Upton did something that normally should have been funny: calling for the ball that he hit for a single in the third inning to be taken out of play as a momento of that rare event. That didn’t even seem to register, though: it was his only hit of the game, with only brother B.J. Upton adding any offense beyond Andrelton Simmons‘ 3 hits.
Speaking of Simmons, I have to wonder if he will be in the lineup tonight given that he aggravated his bad ankle after a double in 5th. But at least he avoided any further damage since the rest of the lineup left him on second base.
Catcher Evan Gattis took BP yesterday… still not clear how soon he might play again. Also, Jason Heyward sat out after being hit on the thumb on Wednesday night.
In other news: the Pirates reduced the Braves’ elimination magic number to 3: they lead Atlanta for that last Wild Card slot by seven games… with 9 to play.
Here’s the numbers…