Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, John Danks Signing, Will We Be Good In 2017?
By Jeff Schafer
Braves To Sign John Danks
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Notes: The Atlanta Braves added some (maybe) depth to the pitching staff on Monday evening as they added a 31-year-old veteran left-handed pitcher. John Danks and the Braves agree to terms on a minor league contract and will most likely get an invite to Spring Training in 2017.
According to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports, Danks will receive $1.5 million rate for any portion of the time he spends in Atlanta this year. This is definitely a low risk, high reward signing for the Braves.
Danks really hasn’t been solid since 2010, but did continue to stay in the White Sox rotation until the beginning of last year. In 2016, he made only four starts and then the White Sox released him.
This signing reminds me of what the Braves have been doing in the past few seasons with pitchers…like Wandy Rodriguez, Chien-Ming Wang and Eric Stults in 2015, Jhoulys Chacin, Alex Torres and Alexi Ogando last year. We’ll see how it plays out as Danks will get a look during ST, but could just be depth in Gwinnett and incase an injury happens (or trade).
"Though he pitched in 2016, Danks made his last appearance in May. He never joined another organization after being cut loose by the White Sox after his first four starts of the year. In that span, Danks lasted 22 1/3 innings and coughed up 18 earned runs on 28 hits with 16 strikeouts against 11 walks.There was a time, of course, when Danks routinely logged around 200 innings of sub-4.00 ERA pitching annually. But those days are well in the past at this point; Danks did top 190 frames in 2014, but has allowed at least 4.7 earned runs per nine in every season dating back to 2012.That 2012 season was a notable one for Danks and his former organization. He had signed a five-year, $65MM extension the winter before, but ended up making only nine starts before undergoing shoulder surgery. Needless to say, he hasn’t been the same since. And his fastball has never again averaged over ninety miles per hour."
Board to consider $100 million Braves spring stadium in Naples
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves have been looking for a new destination spot for their Spring Training home for a couple years now. The Braves are looking to leave the ESPN Disney complex to be located closer to other teams’ facilities. This makes a lot of sense to be closer to other organizations so that players (especially bigger names) could travel to games instead of just playing home games. Atlanta began playing at Disney in 1998 and will be looking for a new place to call home in 2019. New SunTrust Park, new Spring Training park, wow must be a nice problem to have.
"As the Braves continue their long search for a new spring-training home, commissioners in Collier County, Fla., are scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to pursue negotiations with the team to build a $100 million stadium in a Naples development.The proposed 70-acre site is in the City Gate commercial development near I-75 on the east side of Naples.Adding an interesting twist to Tuesday’s meeting: Three of the five positions on the Board of Commissioners have turned over since the rejection of the earlier proposal. The new commissioners will be sworn in an hour before taking up the Braves matter."
"“It’s unfortunate that this has to come to a new board so early, but we’re really working off the Braves’ schedule,” Collier County Manager Leo Ochs told the Naples Daily News."
Next: Make Braves Great Again!
2017 Atlanta Braves: Are The Braves Going to be Good?
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: To answer the question above, my thoughts are hell yes! Baseball is a funny game, just because you don’t have the contracts of the Dodgers or the name on the Red Sox roster doesn’t mean you won’t be good. It’s all about the chemistry.
Braves lineup is getting deeper, our rotation seems to be solid one thru five and our bullpen is shaping up to be pretty good. So with that combination, why can’t the Braves be in contention in 2017? Would a Chris Sale or a Chris Archer put this team over the edge? Possibly, but that didn’t happen and hope we don’t give the Rays what they’re looking for in return for Archer (rumored to be more than the Sale deal).
In 2017 we’ll start getting back those fans who haven’t watched in a few years because this team will play hard and be exciting/competitive. If you’re not watching the Atlanta Braves, continue to follow the minor league teams because these fellas are on their way.
"To be in contention in September, Atlanta will need repeat performances at the plate from several key players. Kemp and Freddie Freeman need to reproduce close to the same power numbers they did last season. A healthy Ender Inciarte needs to play all season as he did post All-Star break. Dansby Swanson has got to build upon the foundation he laid for himself last season. As you can see, many things have to go right for this team to be considered “good”.But it can happen. It isn’t out of the question to think this season’s upcoming Braves team will christen SunTrust with a winning season. Second year manager Brian Snitker has the coaches around him to lead this team in the right direction. Copolella and company feel this team is improved as is, given their lack of participation in the winter meetings. This team is confident it can win, building off of where it left off last season.Will the Bravos be good this season? There’s definitely reason to think so. However, only the baseball gods know for sure. #ChopOn."