Atlanta Braves Spring Chop: of rosters and rotations

We’re roughly halfway through the Grapefruit League schedule for 2018 now and some roster issues are becoming clear… with a couple just as murky as before.

The Atlanta Braves are now at 7-7-1 in Spring play.  The pitching is looking better than the hitting right now, and that’s a hopeful sign.  However, there is an aspect of that part of the game that the team will have to dig a bit deeper than hoped as the season gets underway.

Mark Bowman just tweeted that he’s even in a walking boot… so this probably isn’t your run-of-the-mill playground sprain.

PFP is “Pitcher’s Fielding Practice”.  The pitchers generally loathe this, but it’s frankly necessary because… well, for several reasons, including the most basic:  being able to defend yourself on balls hit right back at you.

But from one who isn’t exactly a specimen of robust athleticism either, I’ll go ahead and say it:  I think Gohara is struggling with his own conditioning.  First, he has a mild groin strain.  Now an ankle turn – possibly because of extra weight, possibly just because he isn’t the most nimble athlete on the field, period.

Gohara is just over 21½ years old.  We’ve seen players recently figure out what they need to do to get into shape.  Aaron Blair has come in looking more fit.  We heard that Matt Kemp shed about 40 pounds and now looks like he’ll make the Dodgers’ starting 25.  Johan Camargo and even Freddie Freeman have gotten after it this Winter, too.

At some point – usually it’s under the threat of losing a job or health or otherwise failing to reach a significant goal – people will take the necessary steps to get done whatever needs to be done for their own fitness.

That hasn’t yet clicked for Gohara.  This opening line from a story back in September by Nubyjas Wilborn makes it clear that there are other priorities as times:

"In many ways, Luiz Gohara is just like any other 21-year-old. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing video games and cracking jokes. He loves a good time and a good meal."

There have also been some persistent rumors that alcohol is also part of that ‘good time.’  Not a good start for an athlete still barely legal to go there (in this country).

Now… as part of the effort that will have to happen to get him back on a mound with all appropriate cautious deliberation, Gohara may have to lose some time:

As another on twitter commented, I agree:  this is probably a no-brainer.  If it’s roughly 2 weeks before he’s even re-evaluated, then that’s more time before he finds a mound again… and that’s when the regular season begins.

So perhaps it will take some adversity – even if it’s self-induced – to change a few habits.