Atlanta Braves Morning Chop Alex Wood and Shelby Miller Start Throwing

AZ Central

Diamondbacks to sign Gerald Laird to minor-league deal

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  After a down season in 2014 with the Atlanta Braves, Laird has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona DBacks.  Arizona doesn’t have a strong group of catchers currently on their roster so if he can find his swing again, he could possibly make the major league roster with a chance to start some games.  He’s a career .244 hitter, but hit just .204 in 2014 with the Braves.

"The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with veteran catcher Gerald Laird on a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training, sources confirmed on Monday.Laird, 35, has played parts of 12 seasons in the majors, most of which were spent as a backup catcher. He’s likely in camp as a sort of safety valve for the Diamondbacks in the event that Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez isn’t ready for major-league duty."

The News Tribune

Braves embrace underdog role as they enter rebuilding mode

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Atlanta Braves newcomer, Shelby Miller threw with Alex Wood and Michael Kohn on Monday afternoon on a chilly day in Atlanta.  The Braves players and front office continue to have confidence in this years team…Wood said on Monday “You don’t have to have to have nine superstars.  We’re going to play a different brand of baseball.”

"Three pitchers were at Turner Field on Monday for voluntary workouts leading up to spring training, all looking to put a positive spin on the dealing of sluggers Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis.“We have a group of guys who kind of have a chip on their shoulder,” said left-handed pitcher Alex Wood, expected to be one of the few holdovers on this year’s roster. “Guys that want to come out and show what they can still do and show what they’re going to do for us younger guys down the road. It’s exciting to go in with a chip on your shoulder. I think it’s going to bring a lot of guys on this team together.”Wood was joined by newcomers Shelby Miller and Michael Kohn on a cold, blustery day that hardly seemed indicative of spring training being just a few weeks away. The first workout for Atlanta’s pitchers and catchers is scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Disney World complex near Orlando, Florida; the full squad gets started on Feb. 26."

After these guys played catch on Monday, Wood gave Miller a hard time on Twitter for taking a few photos…a new friendship is evolving!