Atlanta Braves Morning Chop, Box Score, Jose Ramirez Suspended, Max Fried’s A Stud

Baseball Reference

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves face off against the NL East leading squad of the Washington Nationals for a weekend series.  In game one, Nats rookie Trea Turner ruined any chances the Braves had at winning a ball game.  Washington jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the 2nd inning and never looked back.  Friday was a strange lineup and dugout as Freddie Freeman was off enjoying his newborn and wasn’t at the game.  First time we haven’t seen Freddie either on the field or blowing bubbles in the dugout since 2010.  The Braves fall to 56-91 for the 2016 season and the Nats are now 88-59 with a 10 game lead over second place New York Mets.

Braves lose 7-2

Todays Knuckleball

Max Fried’s gem leads the Rome Braves to Titletown

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Finally a full year under his belt after Tommy John surgery, Max Fried looked sensational at times in the 2016 season.  The 22-year-old was a 1st round pick (7th overall in the 2012 draft out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles by the San Diego Padres.  Fried was part of the huge package the Braves received for Justin Upton.  In 2016, he went 8-7 with a 3.93 ERA in 20 starts for the Rome Braves.  He did miss most of July as he spent time on the DL, but came back on fire.  Expect huge things from Fried as it’s possible we see him in Triple-A next year and possibly even in Atlanta very soon.

"It sounds like a broken record, but another night has passed and yet another Rome Braves starter has hurled another impressive performance. Max Fried dealt a dandy last night, striking out 13 en route to Rome’s first South Atlantic League Championship in 13 years.Forty-nine and one-third innings pitched, 50 strikeouts, eight walks, four earned runs, and a 5-1 record: Those are the numbers that the Rome Braves pitching staff — one who’s average age is a mere 20 years old — posted this postseason starting in the Southern Division Championship Series. Fried’s gem came one day after 19-year-old left Kolby Allard hurled his second shutout performance of the playoffs.“I’ve been excited every morning, waking up and knowing who’s starting pitching that night,” Rome Braves manager Randy Ingle said after the 6-1 victory over Lakewood for the SAL Championship. “Fried tonight, again, he has been lights out. He struck out 13 tonight, he was on a mission. Phenomenal job.”"

ESPN

Jose Ramirez suspended for throwing high at Jose Fernandez

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez hit Nick Markakis with a pitch the other night and his comment after the game was “The ball slipped out of my hand and I hit him”.  Who knows if that’s accurate or not, but at the time we wanted to get revenge.  Ramirez threw at Jose the following inning, throwing a pitch near, but above his head.  Ramirez was immediately thrown out of the game and the benches cleared.  In a way, it was great to see the Braves having each others backs…it kinda felt like the Braves of old with Brian McCann behind the plate.

Next: Braves Can't Get Past Washington... or Turner

"Atlanta Braves reliever Jose Ramirez has been suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area of Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.Major League Baseball announced the penalty Friday, saying Ramirez will appeal.In the seventh inning Wednesday, Ramirez threw inside to Fernandez — who had been knocked to the ground by a pitch from Braves starter Julio Teheran in the fifth — leading to the benches from both teams emptying. No punches were thrown and Ramirez was ejected."