Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop Melvin Upton One Step Closer To Returning
By Jeff Schafer
Upton expects clearance to ramp up activities Friday
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Â Interesting take…Upton is getting ready (he hopes) to get rid of the walking boot on Friday, but Young has been playing exceptional in his departure…looking ahead about a month, what if Young continues his success and Upton is ready to return. Â What will Fredi do? Â WWFD?
"Melvin Upton Jr. expects to hear Friday that he can shed the protective walking boot the Braves center fielder will have worn for five weeks while a left-foot injury healed.Upton has missed virtually all of spring training after being shut down midway through the first full-squad workout and diagnosed with sesamoiditis, a painful inflammation in a bone behind the ball of his foot. He likely won’t be ready to play before May, although he and the Braves have not announced any estimated return date.Eric Young Jr. has parlayed a strong spring training — .317 with five extra-base hits and a .394 OBP in a team-high 63 at-bats before Tuesday — into what’s expected to be full-time duties in center field until Upton is ready to return."
Pitching is going to carry Atlanta Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves rotation looked very solid heading into the 2015 Spring Training. Â We just acquired Shelby Miller from the Cardinals, Mike Minor said he was as healthy as he’s ever been, Julio Teheran and Alex Wood both looked to build off of their success last season and the Braves signed many pitchers to compete for the last spot in the rotation. Â Then, Minor had his injury issues and kind of set everything back a bit. Â No we’re looking to fill two spots in the rotation, at least for the start of the season, instead of just the fifth rotation spot. Â Braves pitching will carry this team in 2015 and the teams success will gratefully be determined on how well these guys pitch and if they can stay healthy.
"The Braves have finished at least fifth in team ERA in the major leagues in each of the past six seasons. That’s without the big three and without Leo Mazzone, the pitching coach given credit for years of success.Give Roger McDowell, the current pitching coach, tremendous credit for the success. It really has been a revolving door of pitchers these past six seasons, but McDowell’s staffs have been excellent.This year, the Braves will rely on pitching. There is concern about Atlanta’s offense, even though it’s doubtful it could be worse than last season when the team finished next-to-last in runs scored. But it’s a new lineup, with five new players, so there is uncertainty until those players prove they can be better than last year’s group."
Kellenberger: Are M-Braves off their Rocker?
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Former Atlanta Braves pitcher, John Rocker, will be attending the Mississippi Braves “fan fest” event at Trustmark Park. Â The controversial pitcher has a long list of non-appealing acts but the M-Braves decided to ask him to attend this event. Â Will this draw more attention to the event and get fans to show up or will it do the opposite?
"So on Saturday the Mississippi Braves are going to hold a “fan fest” event at Trustmark Park in Pearl. There’s going to be a carnival; a super-sized fun area with plenty of inflatables, a rock-climbing wall and other games; local bands playing live music; and Bob Horner, one of the more popular Atlanta Braves from the early TBS superstation days, and Wes Helms, a 13-year MLB veteran who spent his first four seasons in Atlanta, are going to sign autographs. All of this for $15. Great deal, right?Only one problem: The M-Braves also invited John Rocker. Which means you will not see my family there, and why I do not blame you if you do not bring yours.Why bring in the controversial former Braves relief pitcher, who was very good for a short period of time but has spent most of the past 15 years living off the fame provided to him by a 1999 Sports Illustrated article in which he insulted various minorities, made a homophobic slur and called black teammate Randall Simon “a fat monkey”?"