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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Over/Under Contest

By Alan Carpenter

May 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of slot machines at the McCarran International Airport. Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of slot machines at the McCarran International Airport. Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Jace Peterson (8) (far right) reacts with team mates after hitting a walk off home run against the Washington Nationals during the tenth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Nationals 7-6 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Jace Peterson (8) (far right) reacts with team mates after hitting a walk off home run against the Washington Nationals during the tenth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Nationals 7-6 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Team Questions

Here’s the original wording of this group of questions:

  • T1:  How many game WINS will the 2016 Atlanta Braves get?
  • T2:  How many players on the Opening Day 25-man roster will also be on the 25-man list on August 31st (the day before call-ups; DL players count)?
  • T3:  Total team stolen bases (was 69 in 2015).  This could be a tricky one depending on who gets called up… and when.  Of course, that’s the essence of this question :).
  • T4:  Total Team Runs Scored in 2016.  Was 573 (last) in 2015.
  • T5:  How many International free agents will be signed between July 2nd and October 1st?

At this point, I pat myself on the back.  The Over/Under choices made for each question here were almost miraculously close to the actual numbers.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

  • T1:  70 or more / 69 or fewer.  The Braves won 68 times in 2016.
  • T2:  17 or more / 16 or fewer.  The answer was 17.
  • T3:  80 or more / 79 or fewer.  The answer was 75 (likely thanks to the replay review calls against Mallex Smith).
  • T4:  600 or more / 599 or fewer.  The Braves scored 649 runs.
  • T5: 16 or more / 15 or fewer.  This one might cause a bit of controversy.

How close is T5? 

The Braves announced the signings of 14 international market players on July 2nd.  There were at least two others that were expected to sign, but could not on that date since they had not turned 16 years old yet.  These kids are Yefri Del Rosario and Yenci Pena… not to be confused with Yefri Pena, who’s 21 and plays for the Nationals.

Jon Heyman’s new rag page (not an insult) reported that Del Rosario did sign by the end of July.  So he’s #15.

I have yet to see a confirmation on the signing of Pena.  This Dominican web page reported the bonus amount that Pena would be receiving, but as we reported, he could not sign until his July 13th birthday.

In short, I will count him because (a) all of the buzz suggested that he would be a Brave; and (b) because there has been no report of him signing anywhere else.  Surely by now there would have been news about a ‘steal’ had that happened.

So… Pena becomes the 16th International signee.  Quite a talent haul, for sure.

A word about Question T2:  This was all about John Gant.

The Opening Day 25-man roster consisted of the following group:

Those remaining… Eric O’Flaherty, Jim Johnson, Williams Perez, Jose Ramirez, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Daniel Winkler, Tyler Flowers, A.J. Pierzynski, Gordon Beckham, Freddie Freeman, Adonis Garcia, Jace Peterson, Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis.

Those departed… Bud Norris, Jason Grilli, Alexi Ogando, Erick Aybar, Kelly Johnson, Jeff Francouer, Hector Olivera, Drew Stubbs.

And John Gant.  He would be the 17th name… if he counts.

This drama played throughout August:

  • 8/1/16     Atlanta Braves sent RHP John Gant on a rehab assignment to Rome Braves.
  • 8/6/16     Atlanta Braves sent RHP John Gant on a rehab assignment to Gwinnett Braves.
  • 8/21/16    John Gant roster status changed by Atlanta Braves.
  • 8/28/16    Atlanta Braves optioned RHP John Gant to Gwinnett Braves.
  • 8/30/16    Atlanta Braves recalled John Gant from Gwinnett Braves.

So in the end, Gant was on the 25-man roster on August 31st… barely.  The answer:  17.

For the record, A.J. Pierzynski was on a “DL rehab” thing in Orlando… it was more like ‘early retirement’, but still… based on the question’s wording, he counts!

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