Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Box Score, Jeff Francoeur’s Sunday Cleats

Baseball Reference

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Shelby Miller’s return to Atlanta started off badly for him, but by the end of the night he came away with the victory.  The Braves picked up a run in both the first and second innings on Saturday, but then went cold and didn’t score for the rest of the night.  Atlanta had only four hits and two came in the first two innings.  One more stat that you can probably see below, two hits came off Reid Brignac’s bat and another off a pinch hit Chase d’Arnaud single.  The Braves fall to 7-22 for the 2016 season.  For a full run down of last nights game, see Dan’s recap here.

Braves lose 4-2

CBS Sports

Braves’ Ender Inciarte: In the starting lineup Saturday

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Ender Inciarte returned to the Braves lineup on Saturday night, but he went 0-3 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout.  In the two games he played with the Gwinnett Braves he went 2-6 with a walk.  In Gwinnett, he tracked down a hard line drive ball to deep center and the Braves thought his hamstring was ready to go.  Just because of his first day back stats, Ender should give the Braves an offensive boost.

"Inciarte is in the starting lineup batting second for Saturday’s matchup with the Braves, Jody Jackson of FOX Sports Arizona reports.Inciarte, who has been out since Apr. 8, was activated from the disabled list following Friday’s series opener. He is 1-for-4 with two RBI and two walks in his career against Saturday’s starter Shelby Miller."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Braves anemically thwart trend of home-run increase

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves have hit seven home runs this season – four have came off the bat of Freddie Freeman, two homers have come from two guys that are no longer on the Braves roster, Adonis Garcia and Drew Stubbs and the other was from rookie Mallex Smith.  Freddie hit a home run in the first inning of Saturday’s game against former Braves pitcher Shelby Miller.  Going into the season, we knew this Braves team wasn’t going to hit many homers this season.  

"The term “slugging percentage” largely is a misnomer when applied to the Atlanta Braves. After their first 28 games, the Braves’ slugging mark of .289 was lower than any team ended the season at in 106 years. That’s when the 1910 Chicago White Sox, who bashed seven homers, finished with a .261 slugging percentage.Atlanta, with six homers in its first 28 games, was on pace to hit 35 for the season. That would rival the war-year 1943 Philadelphia Athletics, who had 26 homers. But, worse, yet, was the Braves’ pace in triples. They were on pace to hit none, their last three-base hit having come on Oct. 2 of last year in Atlanta when Daniel Castro tripled off Cardinals reliever Jonathan Broxton.With seven wins, the Braves still were in position to become the first team in 25 years, since the 1991 Cardinals, to hit fewer homers (68) than games won (84). Todd Zeile led with 11 that year."

Twitter

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur will wear these cleats in Sunday’s game against the DBacks for Mother’s Day.  If you’re curious with the Twitter handle that the Braves included in their tweet, that’s Francoeur’s and yes he did join Twitter!  Many will wear pink on Sunday, but I don’t think anyone will match the look of these cleats.