Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop Melvin Upton Jr Shows Up To Camp

AJC

Despite predictions, Braves should be interesting and more enjoyable

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  If you remember YOUR playing days way back when, the times when your team had the most success was when everything clicked the way it was suppose to.  Team chemistry and leadership are two qualities that teams need to have for success on the field.  The Atlanta Braves seemed to have lost this along the way with the departures of superstar Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Tim Hudson, David Ross, Martin Prado and even Eric Hinske.  Now for the 2015 season, the Braves may have brought in the right guys for success inside and outside the clubhouse. 

"I said it on Twitter this week and will say it again now: It’s early and the entire team isn’t even here yet, but so far I’d have to say the Braves’ offseason effort to improve the clubhouse – let’s not use the “c” word (chemistry) since it offends some – was a success.Of course, it wouldn’t take much to improve upon last year. Not that there were a bunch of bad guys on the team, because there weren’t. It just lacked something. It lacked a lot, actually. Things like leadership and big personalities, outspoken veterans who knew how to keep guys in line but also keep things loose and help ease the tension during rough spells. (It doesn’t have to be the same guy or guys doing all that, but if you’ve got one or two who can, that’s gold.)This clubhouse is going to have that, I believe. Like Braves clubhouses did in the past, when the likes of Eric Hinske, Martin Prado, David Ross, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones fit all or part of the description."

Fox Sports South

Braves’ Russell puts focus on making rotation, not bullpen

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Early this offseason, Braves front office and probably Manager Fredi Gonzalez informed James Russell that they’d like to test him out for a rotation spot.  They told him to stretch his arm out so that he could possible be a starter for the Braves.  Well, now that the Braves signed and traded for 15 other starting pitchers (hypothetically), it seemed unlikely Russell still had a shot at the fifth starter position.  He still feels as though he does.  One more thing to keep an eye on in Spring Training.

"The Braves‘ clubhouse in the Wide World of Sports complex is littered with new acquisitions who are gunning for the fifth spot in the rotation, a group of highly-touted young arms and veterans.It’s a crowded field, and holdover James Russell, who has spent the bulk of his five-year career in the bullpen, is working to remain a part of it.“They just told me to come in and be ready to be stretched out,” the left-hander said before Sunday’s workout. “I’m preparing like I’m competing for a fifth starting spot and I have that mindset.”"

Twitter

Chipper Jones goes skiing in Colorado…believes he has an injury but going back for more today…

B.J., I mean Melvin Upton has arrived to camp!