Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Travis Demeritte and Chris Ellis Play Against Tim Tebow
By Jeff Schafer
Gleyber Torres homers, Tim Tebow steals in AFL
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Yes, we do have meaningful Braves baseball being played in the fall! A couple of our top prospects are playing in multiple Fall/Winter leagues…Mallex Smith, Matt Wisler, Travis Demeritte, Dustin Peterson, Chris Ellis to name a few. Last night, MLB.com aired the game between Salt River (Braves organization) and Scottsdale (Tim Tebow’s team).
Braves prospect, Chris Ellis, started on the mound for Salt River and went 2.2 innings. He had a dominate opening two innings, but collapsed in the third inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Tebow, then a walk and then a home run blast. In the 3rd inning, even his outs were hard hit balls. On the broadcast they were talking about his control issues he had in 2016 and that showed last night. He gave up three walks, four hits, and five runs…all but one walk came in the 3rd inning.
Demeritte has been starting for Salt River at second base and batting leadoff for the majority of the Fall. He’s batting .275 after a 2-4 night last night. This guy impressed me last night. I knew about his swing and power, but haven’t been able to see it first hand…last night, I saw what folks are talking about. He can swing a bat! I know the Braves have Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies for the future of the middle infield, but this is someone to keep your eye on in the minors next year.
"Second baseman Travis Demeritte, the Braves’ No. 7-ranked prospect, led off the game with a walk against Scottsdale starter Grayson Long, the Angels’ No. 10 prospect, and came around to score on a groundout by catcher Jacob Nottingham (Brewers’ No. 14).That 1-0 lead held until the top of the third inning, when the Scorpions broke through with their five-run outburst. After Torres’ homer, Ryder Jones (San Francisco Giants) added an RBI double and was singled in by Andujar.The Rafters scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to tie it up, with Brewers right fielder and No. 7 prospect Brett Phillips (62nd overall) doubling in two runs and Demeritte doubling in another pair."
Fox production enhances World Series experience
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: I can honestly say that I agree with this article…and it’s not just because I’m a Braves fan and loved watching Smoltzy play. John Smoltz brings something different to the table in the broadcast booth. He brings knowledge of the game as well as a great charismatic personality. Yes, there has been both of these traits in the past with other commenters, but something is different about Smoltz. The article also talks about how FOX has handled the World Series so far this season. The graphic packages have been spot on, the pre-game features have been very good and it seems as though they’ve captured the emotions from both sides extremely well. Pat on the back FOX, keep it up…it’s going seven games!
"It is rare for a TV viewer to refuse to watch a sporting event because of the announcers, but there is no question what is said can enhance or detract from the viewing experience.The analyst’s chair has been Fox’s issue, but the network has solved that with John Smoltz. Since Tim McCarver‘s retirement after the 2013 Series, Fox tried a three-man booth of Buck, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci.Smoltz was a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Atlanta Braves (something Buck could mention a little less often) and attacks baseball analysis the way he did opposing batters. Not having a crowded booth gives him room to speak.“What’s he’s done is taken the count back into (Trevor) Bauer’s favor,” Smoltz said in Game 2 after Cubs second basemanJavier Baez‘s swing at a pitch out of the strike zone. “That, right there, is the old Baez. 3-1, very aggressive, not taking what the team’s giving you. That was a walk.”"
Though his grandfather never got to do it, Chip Caray may get to witness the Cubs celebrating a World Series title
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: From one broadcaster to another…in this article, Braves own Chip Caray talks about his grandfather being such a huge Chicago Cubs fan and being in the booth calling games for the Cubbies. Harry Carry would never see the Cubs win the World Series, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t give it his all every single night. I can still picture Harry Carry saying the famous “Holy Cow!”…or maybe that’s Will Ferrell that I’m remembering, ha. Game three of the 2016 World Series is tonight in Chicago as the series is tied 1-1. This should continue to be a great series as both have the pitching and offense to win this Championship.
"As a baseball man, Chip Caray is excited to be a part of the World Series atmosphere.As a grandson to the late, great Chicago broadcaster, Harry Caray, he understands he can do what the legendary broadcaster couldn’t — watch the Cubs win the Series.Chip, a new resident of St. Augustine, was hired by Fox 32 in Chicago to host pre- and postgame shows.“People ask me all the time if they’d ever see the Cubs win a Series in their lifetime,” Caray said as the Series shifted from Cleveland to Wrigley Field for Game 3 tonight. “I always ask them how long do they plan to keep on living?”"