Atlanta Braves news: the morning chop, box score, Tyler Flowers extension?
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: So Julio Teheran at SunTrust Park…anyways. Atlanta Braves took on the Cincinnati Reds in game two of this three-game series and yes, it didn’t go our way, again. Both teams battled throughout the game, but the Reds ended up victorious. The Reds won game one and now game two which means they have clinched their first series at SunTrust Park after not winning a series at Turner Field in the past seven years!! It’s been since 2010 since the Reds won a series at our home! SEVEN YEARS
This new SunTrust Park is amazing and everything around the Battery, but man we’re struggling inside the white lines.
Brandon Phillips and Kurt Suzuki each had three hits. Dansby Swanson, Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis each had two hits. In total, the Braves had 15 hits and scored eight runs…but that wasn’t enough.
Teheran threw six innings, gave up eight hits, five runs (four earned), three walks and had seven strikeouts. His 2017 ERA is 5.02 and now holds a 7-11 record. At SunTrust Park though, he has only one win and holds a 6.98 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Something has to change here.
61. 8. 17. Final. 11
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ender Inciarte CF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .298 | .343 | .404 |
| Brandon Phillips 3B | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .287 | .327 | .431 |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .321 | .417 | .628 |
| Matt Kemp LF | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .288 | .333 | .472 |
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .277 | .358 | .392 |
| Kurt Suzuki C | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .269 | .346 | .527 |
| Ozzie Albies 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .186 | .246 | .356 |
| Matt Wisler P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Jim Johnson P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Matt Adams PH | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .276 | .320 | .527 |
| Dansby Swanson SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .218 | .294 | .321 |
| Julio Teheran P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .146 | .182 | .146 |
| Lane Adams PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .267 | .313 | .400 |
| Jason Motte P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Jace Peterson 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .199 | .288 | .294 |
| Team Totals | 43 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 49 | .349 | .396 | .605 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Teheran, L (7-11) | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5.02 |
| Jason Motte | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.90 |
| Matt Wisler | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.10 |
| Jim Johnson | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.96 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 10.00 |
Phillips flashes leather, remains mum on switch
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: This situation is still strange to me. Phillips is that positive, outspoken leader in the clubhouse, but still hasn’t spoken to the media about his move to third base. It’s been 18 days since the Braves called up Ozzie Albies to play second base and moved Phillips to third. I kinda got it right after the move, but it’s been a while now to get past it. His play on the field has been spectacular at third, but is supposedly still unhappy about it. I don’t know if it’s motivation or what, but it’s working.
The 36-year-old is 18-69 at the plate since the move, but is currently on a five game hit streak.
Am I surprised by this situation? Not really, we all knew Albies was on his way, it was just a matter of time. What I am surprised about is that the Braves haven’t found a trade partner for Phillips yet.
"Still seemingly unhappy about being forced to make a late-season transition, Brandon Phillips still isn’t willing to discuss anything about his play at his new position. But during Saturday night’s 11-8 loss to the Reds at SunTrust Park, the Braves’ third baseman showed his former teammates he can still be as impressive as he was during his days as their National League Gold Glove Award-winning second baseman.“He just keeps doing it and keeps playing,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s playing extremely well.”Phillips has chosen not to publicly comment on the Braves’ decision to move him to third base on Aug. 1 to make room for highly regarded prospect Ozzie Albies, who has spent this month serving as Atlanta’s starting second baseman. The four-time Gold Glove winner was not happy to learn of Albies’ promotion before being asked to make a position switch."
Next: The Braves Could Benefit from Robo-Umpires
Flowers on extension: ‘Hopefully that’s something on Braves’ mind’
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: This offseason, the Braves will try to answer many questions we all have. One of which will be the catcher position. Tyler Flowers has been exceptional for the Braves in 2017 (and 2016) and wants to stay in Atlanta. The team has a $4 million option for 2018, but he’s thinking longer. It’s possible the Braves try to extend the deal past 2018 so they have a lock down veteran catcher. The 31-year-old should have plenty of years left in him and it would be great to see him stay in a Braves uniform.
The Braves have some great catching prospects in the minors, but they are still a few years away. Alex Jackson and Brett Cumberland are probably the closest to joining the Atlanta Braves, but I still think they’re two years away. Lucas Herbert and William Contreras are also great looking catching prospects but probably even further away.
It’s great to see so many good looking catching prospects in the Braves organization, but keeping Flowers around for 2018 and picking up that option makes the most sense. The extension also makes sense for Flowers and the Braves as it could be a two-year deal through 2020.
"Flowers, a Roswell native, has filled what once appeared to be a huge void at catcher. In his second season with the Braves, he’s put together the best statistical season of his career."
"Flowers is hitting a career-best .293, well above his collective .241 average since 2009. After a 1-for-4 game Friday, he’s hitting .288 over his past 18 games, including an 11-game hitting streak as a starter.“You know, it’s definitely one of the most fun seasons I’ve had,” Flowers said. “Just the mix of working with young guys, working with some veteran guys, decent job defensively, success here and there offensively; that always makes it a little more fun to show up to work and compete. You feel like you can compete with whoever’s out there that day. That’s made it a lot of fun. The coaches, the environment that we’ve created, the direction we’re heading keeps you excited.”"