Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Ozzie Albies Strong ST, Ryan Weber Being Forgotten?

AJC

Pendleton on Albies: ‘It doesn’t matter how big you are’

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Ozzie Albies is having a great 2016 Spring Training as he’s gone 6-10 at the plate with a home run, four RBIs, two walks and zero strikeouts.  One of the Atlanta Braves tops prospects, Albies is only 19-years-old.  Dansby Swanson, the Braves top prospect, and Albies will be the future of the middle infield in Atlanta for years to come…but we’ll have to wait, at least a little while.  These two will most likely be sent to the same Braves affiliate so they can grow together in the middle infield.

"Did we mention that Albies only turned 19 in January and is about 155 pounds and generously listed as 5 feet 9 (actual height? I’d say 5-6 or 5-7).“In this game it doesn’t matter how big you are,” said Braves first-base coach and infield instructor Terry Pendleton, another guy who was a bit undersized for his position (a 5-foot-9 third baseman), and who won the 1991 National League MVP award and was MVP runner-up in ’92.“I think it’s the ability, the heart to keep battling when times are tough, and the mindset. You’ve got to have a different mindset,” Pendleton said. “Albies didn’t get here because he had a nonchalant mindset. He got here because he didn’t’ care what people thought of him. They probably say, ‘Oh, you’re not big enough, you can’t do this, you can’t do that…’ He can do all of it."

Fox Sports South

Forgotten man Weber has sights on Braves rotation

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Much talk over the last few weeks has been about the Braves rotation and who will fill out the final two spots.  Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler and Bud Norris are pretty much guarantees for the rotation…now, who will be in these final two spots.  With many names in contention, Ryan Weber‘s name seems to be getting lost in the discussions.  He has pitched in one game in 2016 Spring Training, but gave up four hits and five unearned runs.  Over the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see how the Braves use Weber.

"Like Weber, who opened the season in Double-A Mississippi and ended it with five starts in Atlanta, where the right-hander went 0-3 with a 4.76 ERA. But he had three outings in which he gave up one run or less, including Oct. 1 against the National when he struck out 10 and allowed one run on five hits in seven innings.“He’s a guy that doesn’t light up the radar gun, he’s not throwing 95, 96, but he gets people out,” Gonzalez said. “He can field his position. He can command his fastball and secondary pitches.”…”(It’s) just knowing I have to work that much harder to earn that spot and it’s not going to be given to anyone,” Weber said. “Whoever is there on Opening Day really earned it and deserves to be out there.”"

CBS Pittsburgh

Pirates Fan Saves Kid’s Face From Flying Baseball Bat

"According to Tribune-Review photographer Christopher Horner, it happened at a Spring Training game in Florida, against the Atlanta Braves."