Morning Chop: Braves 6/14 (Flag Day)

May 28, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; American flag at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It was an off-day for the big club, but baseball news still goes on… draft pick signings are happening in clusters:

• From MLBTradeRumors:

"Third-round choice Carlos Salazar has agreed to an above-slot deal with the Braves, says Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). While the precise amount of the bonus is not yet known, Salazar was taken with the 102nd choice, which came with a $505,700 bonus recommendation. A high-school right-hander who has hit 97 with his fastball, Salazar was a consensus top-100 draft prospect. (Baseball America had Salazar at number 93; ESPN’s Keith Law put him at 81; and MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo placed him at the 70th slot.) Salazar is being advised by Reynolds Sports Management and Dave Meier.Catcher/right-hander Tanner Murphy, a fourth-round pick of the Braves, agreed to a $250K bonus to forego his commitment to Southern Illinois, Callis tweets. Murphy has power in his bat and a strong throwing arm behind the dish, and he’s also been clocked at 92 mph on the mound. He signed for a healthy $125K below slot."

• Murphy isn’t the only draft pick with position-identity issues:  JuCo second rounder Victor Caratini is also listed as a catcher, but is just as much a third baseman.  But to be fair, the better athletes often play multiple positions (see also:  Simmons, Andrelton).  Certainly this gives the organization flexibility in figuring out what’s best for the player’s future… oh, and literally while I’m writing this… here’s more news:

"Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisBA 14m   #Braves sign 2nd-rder Victor Caratini for $800k. Miami Dade JC, moved from 3B to C, solid LH bat, gap power, plus arm strength. #mlbdraft"

• The Braves have already signed at over two dozen of their picks, including 8th rounder Kyle Wren… Frank’s son (reportedly at the slot value).  Bet that one was a tough sell!

Nasty storm late yesterday through the Southeast.  Check these tweets:

• Jordan Schafer ‏@JordanSchafer 13h  Holy!!!!!! I wake up and it looks like the end of the world outside  [dude:  get up earlier!]
• Chipper Jones ‏@RealCJ10 13h  Sorry for the absence guys, but we were dodging tornadoes here!  [included a photo of an uprooted tree]
• Kevin McAlpin ‏@KevinMcAlpin 13h  I’ve done it 10 times already! RT @mlbbowman: Just wondering how many more times I am going to flip light switches while the power is out

One poignant tweet from Freddie Freeman:

• Freddie Freeman ‏@FreddieFreeman5 19h  Can’t believe it’s been 13 years! Love and miss you everyday mom! Please keep my family in your prayers on this tough day for us! 6/13/00

Here’s something for today – help out others, and get something for yourself, too:

• Atlanta Braves ‏@Braves 7m  Strike Out Hunger food drive tonight in Monument Grove. Bring 20 cans of food or $20 and you can get an autograph from @kimbrel46.  [6:35-7pm; 1 signature per dontation, please]

There is no way I can end this post with anything less than this scene captured by the FOX Sports/Cardinals network.  Of course it’s a Mets fan.  Love how Trevor Rosenthal takes a glance over his shoulder as if to say “oh… yeah, another one.”

Yes, there was alcohol involved!