Atlanta Braves News: Afternoon Chop, Matt Kemp Looks Great, Sean Rodriguez Done For Season
By Jeff Schafer
Sean Rodriguez Likely To Miss 2017 Season After Shoulder Surgery
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The horrific Sean Rodriguez crash scene has been floating around the web for over two weeks now. As news was breaking, first Rodriguez’s kids were injured and then his wife. We just heard Sean Rodriguez was involved, not injured. About a week ago, news broke that he had a shoulder injury, that evolved into a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Crushing news for Braves camp, but Coppy had a plan. Brandon Phillips was on Braves GM John Coppolella’s agenda in November, but the deal with Rodriguez went through. Now with Rodriguez’s injury, the thought of Phillips to ATL popped up again. Here what Coppy had to say about the situation yesterday…
"Braves infielder Sean Rodriguez underwent a procedure to repair the rotator cuff in his left shoulder, per a club announcement. Though the team did not provide a timetable, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that it’s likely Rodriguez will miss the entire 2017 campaign after suffering what MLB.com’s Mark Bowman describes (via Twitter) as a complete tear.Rodriguez, 31, suffered the injury when he and his family endured a terrifying auto accident that left the driver of another vehicle dead. He had signed on with the Atlanta organization on a two-year deal that promised him $11MM.Upon learning of the injury, the Braves went on to acquire veteran Brandon Phillips to help account for Rodriguez’s absence."
Commissioner Rob Manfred offers ideas to create more game action
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Oh, the old “time of game” topic. It’s a topic of discussion not only in baseball, but really every sport. These days, folks have a small attention span and are always doing multiple things. MLB’s commissioner Rob Manfred joined ESPN to talk about how they’re working on the pace of game and time of the game. A few of the proposals were raising the strike zone, eliminating the intentional walk and new ways to streamline the instant replay. One new idea that I heard them talk about during this ESPN interview was starting extra innings with a runner on second base. Wow. Manfred said they may try this in the lower leagues.
"Nothing about baseball “needs to be fixed,” Rob Manfred said Thursday. But the commissioner then emphatically defended a series of pace-of-game proposals, saying his sport does need to change “so that baseball means as much to the next generation as it does to our generation.”Speaking at the annual Grapefruit League media day, Manfred spent most of a half-hour news conference pushing a series of potential changes that he hopes will create more action and less dead time.MLB is currently negotiating with the players’ association over which, if any, of the proposals will go into effect for this season."
Next: Braves Have Phillips, Bench Questions Remain
Kemp impresses with leaner physique, then power-hitting display
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Oh baby! Matt Kemp in the best shape of his life, smoking homers, excited about the upcoming season!! His enthusiasm is making me even more excited. Freddie Freeman arrived to camp yesterday, along with Dansby Swanson. Nick Markakis has arrived today. We’re off and running Braves fans!! The cold, winter months are behind us and spring is in the air. The sound of a baseball hitting gloves and bats is unlike any other sound.
"It wasn’t just that Matt Kemp shed some pounds during the offseason, it was that the Braves slugger redistributed, if you will, other pounds he retained."
"His waist, midsection and backside are slimmer, and his arms and chest are massive."
"“He looks great,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “The first time I saw him I said, you look like you did when you played center field for the Dodgers, from what I remember. He’s in great shape. That’s really good. He’s a big man. And we saw what he can do for a club, what he did for us. That (improved condition) is very encouraging.”"