Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: some better news items
Yes, the ‘important’ story is still all about the scandal. But you probably don’t want to hear about that on a 24-7 basis, amiright?
There are actually some additional Atlanta Braves news items going on that you might be interested in, despite the regular season having ended and other cities’ teams still playing.
So let’s take a peek…
Atlanta Braves break ground on spring training complex
ZACK MURDOCK / SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE
"NORTH PORT — It took local officials and Atlanta Braves executives more than two years to negotiate and finalize a plan to build a new spring training complex in North Port.Now the team and construction crews have just 16 months to actually build it.The race to the Braves’ first pitch in February 2019 officially began Monday when local officials and team executives formally broke ground on the site of the planned $100 million stadium complex in the West Villages.Standing in the middle of what is now just a pasture off U.S. 41 and River Road, leaders hailed the project as a boon for North Port and the entire area and marveled at the transformation that must take place over the next year."
So it is finally underway! And unlike the mystery and secrecy surrounding the deal that made SunTrust Park a reality, everything about this 8,000 seat, $100 million project has been open to scrutiny the entire time.
That said, this project will end up taking longer to have negotiated than it will take to build.
Either way, the countdown has started for Champion Stadium at Walt Disney World. The Braves will have one more Spring season of lengthy bus trips and then 2019 will bring a new start to Spring.
Former Braves manager a candidate for Tigers’ vacancy
"Former Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez is reportedly among the leading candidates to replace Brad Ausmus as the Detroit Tigers manager."
"MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports the Tigers have asked to speak to the Marlins’ third base coach about their managerial opening. Ausmus’ stint with the Tigers (64-98) after his contract was not extended."
Such news isn’t just to be taken lightly – the Tigers apparently pursued Gonzalez, not the other way ’round.
In fact, Dave O’Brien tweeted that he’s heard rumblings that Gonzalez may in fact be the front-runner for the job.
You can laugh about that if you wish, but consider the Tigers’ situation: several veterans, several bounce-back candidates, a possible rebuild (their farm system could certainly use some major help, though). They don’t need a superstar manager – but they do need somebody who has been through both the good and the bad and remained consistent.
Besides, who knows? If he gets the gig and the Braves follow through with reports that the coaching staff could be shaken up an bit, don’t be surprised if a couple of current Braves’ employees end up in Detroit as well.
Arizona Update
The Arizona Fall League is in full swing, and some Braves are doing very well… including this guy who is getting some major league rotation thoughts going for 2018 already:
“This guy” is Max Fried, who shut down Salt River in his second AFL start yesterday.
Get this line: 5IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 4 K.
That was it… two base runners yesterday.
In the two starts combined, he’s logged 8 innings with 4 hits, 2 walks, 11K and a 0.75 WHIP… which is still higher than his ERA of 0.00. That will play.
More from Tomahawk Take
- Atlanta Braves sign free agent outfielder Jordan Luplow
- Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 16-20
- Braves News: Reacting to Dansby’s departure, Michael Brantley, more
- Atlanta Braves: Best Option at Shortstop Now That Dansby Swanson is Gone
- Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos’ views on the offseason so far
Other Desert Denizens
- Ronald Acuna: .294 in 17 AB, all singles so far, though with a .429 OBP (4K, 3BB). He’s probably just toying with them.
- Alex Jackson: might be coming to life after a weekend grand slam. Now hitting .250 in 16 AB – just 2 K. Interestingly enough, Jackson has gotten the majority of catching reps so far despite two other catchers on the roster – including Max Pentecost.
- Austin Riley: also .250 in 12AB, most of that damage coming in 1 game. 5K too, but 3 of those were in his first game.
- Touki Toussaint: 2 games, 4IP, 0 hits, 0.00 ERA with 0.50 WHIP and 8K. If he had the innings of Fried, we’d be all over that, too.
- Corbin Clouse: 2 games, 3IP, 0 hits, 1 BB, 4K, 0.67 WHIP. These Braves pitchers are seriously making their fielders go to sleep out there.
- Josh Graham: 2 games, 4.50 ERA thanks to 1 run allowed on 3 hits… but 0 BB and 2K in 2 innings.
Honestly, this Peoria team is truly loaded – and not just with the Braves’ prospects. Michael Chavis, Josh Naylor, Luis Urias, Javier Guerra, and Lourdes Gurriel are leading this team in hitting, while the Braves’ pitchers are shutting down the opposition.
The Javelinas are 4-2 now – just behind Glendale for 1st place. The way this is going, expect Fried to lead the all-star selections coming up in a couple of weeks.