Gwinnett 1, Lehigh Valley 3
I don't really have much to say about this game. Todd Redmond didn't pitch particularly well, no one really hit the ball (0 extra base hits for the team). So I have nothing to give other than the bullpen did go 3 more scoreless innings in this one.
Mississippi 6, Montgomery 5
My boy Willie Cabrera hit another homer tonight and might finally be finding his stroke after coming off the DL. Gorkys continues to rake and strike out. he is up to .349 with 37K in 152 AB. I really like him, but he needs to cut those down a little bit. Raise the walks a tiny bit as well.
Myrtle Beach 3, Winston-Salem 5
Cody Johnson does what he does best here, hit homers and strike out a couple times. He is still sporting and OPS over .950 so I won't complain until it really starts to hurt him, which will probably be in AA. This was one of Locke's bad games obviously. He does that, and it scares me.
Rome - Off
0 recs | 55 comments
I think his defense hurt him tonight...
Last year, I saw him pitch a couple of times and his defense really let him down. He’s a groundball pitcher so defense is very important for him. Only 3 of his runs were earned. We’ve seen how errors can really hurt a pitcher just by making him have to throw extra pitches…
Little Lady - May 19, 2009
the defense didn’t make him walk 4 guys. I know a defense can hurt especially a GB guy, but Locke has always had this schizo streak.
yondaime4 - May 19, 2009
Well, this stuff can be interlinked, too. Young pitchers who don’t trust their defense can fall into the trap of nibbling at the strike zone instead of making their pitches. I’m not saying that’s what happened tonight, but I think Locke’s fallen into that trap before.
Bronn - May 20, 2009
I know.
I didn’t listen to the game, but I know it’s happened to him plenty of times before. Eventually, he’s going to have to learn to deal with it and pitch around it or we might have another Jo-Jo on our hands. I really like Locke, though, and hope he does well.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
That was Locke’s story last year in Rome – he pitched better than his numbers would indicate, and the defense let him down more often than not. I understand where yondaime4 is coming from, but I would say that on nights when the defense was shaky last year, Locke would usually be cruising along, have a few miscues behind him (sometimes just bonehead plays that weren’t errors), and then he’d let it get to him and start falling apart. Falling apart may even be too harsh….when a guy is going good and the defense keeps extending inning after inning, it’s going to take its toll somehow – either physically or mentally. That was true last season, and much of that defense is with him now in MB.
secondbass - May 20, 2009
Yeah...
Rome’s defense was pretty horrible. That was very obvious in the few games I went to. I agree, his numbers are scewed by it. If that sort of thing was happening with me, I know I’d want to avoid the batter putting the ball in play at all costs.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
It’s really beginning to hit me just how bereft of hitting the Braves are at the top levels of their farm system. There’s not a single noteworthy power bat to be found anywhere.
Jordan Schafer was the only really intriguing hitter last year from our AA and AAA affiliates, and we’ve already plugged him in as a starter. If we had to fill a roster spot for an injury, the best options are OBP guys with no power. See Brandon Jones (6 XBH in 113 PAs) and Diory Hernandez (12 XBH in 120 PAs). Our single best hitter in the top levels is Barbaro, the 29 year old Cuban who’s definitely in his power prime and not very project-able. Mississippi is even less encouraging-Gorkys might be a decent leadoff hitter in a couple years, but he’s no difference maker. Kala Ka’aihue leads that team with 4 home runs.
I’m predicting Jason Heyward earns a midseason call-up sometime next year, and Freeman gets a shot some time in 2011 (perhaps opening day) but between now and then, I don’t expect too many position players in the farm system to get locked into roster spots. It’s a bit disconcerting because the Braves have a high draft pick this year but there’s really no exciting batting prospects at the top of this draft. Makes me wonder if some package involving Morton/Campillo, Acosta, and one of our good prospects at Myrtle Beach (Osuna, Locke, Rohrbough?) might end up shipped out just to get some more bats in the system.
Bronn - May 20, 2009
I think it’s a bit early to write Gorkys off as a non-difference maker. A 21 year old with plus plus speed and defense thats hitting .350/.400 in his AA debut is nothing turn your nose up to. Gorkys could add some power too. The Ks have to come down, but I’ll give a guy a pass at 150 ABs into a Double-A debut. Breaking into the Southern League as a hitter is tough, and I’m not going to do too much criticism of any 21 year old who’s sporting a .400 OBP there.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
All i know is if Gorkys was doing those same numbers in Atlanta he would def be a difference maker as long as Kotchman is hitting 2nd and not Escobar.
When you get your lead off man on base 40% of the time you will have a difference in your out come because your better hitters can drive him in.
drumzalicious - May 20, 2009
Whenever I look at Gorkys’ numbers, I can’t help but think of Hanley Ramirez as a minor leaguer.
Ramirez: .297/.352/.430 (400 games)
Hernandez: .293/.353/.405 (309 games)
And if we look as Ramirez’s MLB line, .310/.382/.530, I think it’s safe to say that Gorkys certainly has the potential to be a serious difference maker down the road and develop power like timmy said.
MatM - May 20, 2009
agreed with timmy
a guy with very good speed at the top of the order can create havoc for a team. Just like Furcal had his speed and was creating havoc. Gorkys has about that same amount of speed or maybe a little faster not sure on that. I have viewed this guy as a young Carl Crawford for over a year now, still think that, just he is a righty instead of a lefty. He will prolly end up playin LF for us just like Crawford is for the Rays. Gorkys can play CF but heard Schafer D is better and heard Heyward is a natural in RF so he prolly stays there so Gorkys will prolly play Left. You have to realize not every team has a guy with game changing speed that can ACTUALLY get on first base. You cant steal first. Guys like Bourn of the Stros are very very fast but the guy cant get on base much to save his life but a guy like Gorkys can get on base he will be a special player if he can stay healthy, i just hope we dont end up trading this guy. I realize not all prospects will make it but i believe this guy will and will play a pivitol role for this team in the future.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
ummm, what?
no intriguing batting prospects at the top of the draft?
Ackley is a VERY intriguing bat at the top of the draft.
Tate is intriguing in that he’s an unknown. You could be getting Upton or you could be getting Keith Mitchell.
Green can hit (as evident by his destroying the Cape this year (remember, the Cape’s got wooden bats)) but he’s been pretty mediocre this year. Perhaps going back to Aluminum has messed with his timing.
Josh Prince, SS, Tulane
Carlos Ramirez, C, Arizona State University
Josh Phegley, IU
Matt Davidson, 3B HS
Austin Maddox, C, HS
Jake Marisnick, OF, HS
Bobby Borchering 3B, HS
there are all names of kids who COULD be available when we pick again in the 3rd round. They can all hit and are positions of need for us in the minors. I am assuming we go Wheeler @ 7 and then one of these kids later.
apoxonbothyourhouses - May 20, 2009
I was never a huge fan of Gorkys and just figured him to be trade bait down the road, but he’s starting to grow on me…even with the lucky BABIP Someone with that glove and that kind of speed is always nice to have. As long as he becomes more Carl Crawford and less Juan Pierre, I’ll take him on my team.
Also, Jason Heyward is really good at baseball.
Uninvited - May 20, 2009
I just checked his BABIP before I read your post…good lord…
Smoltz's Beard - May 20, 2009
how trustworthy is Line Drive ? because he does have a 30 line there as well.
yondaime4 - May 20, 2009
There’s always a bit of error with those batted ball stats, but generally it’s decent enough.
I’d be interested to know where you found his LD%, though-I’ve been wondering if he’s been bunting for a lot of base hits as well.
Bronn - May 20, 2009
minorleaguesplits.com
It’s the greatest statisical site ever. Even though it has the occasional flaw and isn’t updated nightly always.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
I doubt they trade Gorkys, or rather I hope they don’t i would love his offensive abilities in our Outfield. Heck if Schafer comes around i wouldnt mind seeing him replace FYF.
drumzalicious - May 20, 2009
Yeah, Cody Johnson is probably goingto have a very tough time at AA...
bwellnjonesco - May 20, 2009
We’ll see. He’s steadily improved as a player every year, hitting more homers, striking out less, generally being more productive. He’s on pace for 50 homers in a 144 game season. Sure, he’s also on pace for 211 strikeouts, but when you’re OPS is .955, most folks are going to be very happy with that.
cbwilk - May 20, 2009
I hope your right
Kala’s recent struggles at AA won’t get out of my head when I think of Cody…
bwellnjonesco - May 20, 2009
Well…Kala was a year older in his first crack at MB, where in 14 more games than Cody has played, he actually struck out less, but also wasn’t nearly as productive, his OPS ending up at .812. So then, the next year, now 2 years older than Cody is, he rebounded wonderfully, outperforming Cody’s current pace in pretty much everything, except homers and strikeouts, with a .993 OPS. And now, KK is working on part of a 3th in AA, and pretty much sucking after a decent year last year.
Personally, I think the age thing is what makes me believe that Cody will succeed where KK failed. He’s going to be a year or 2 younger than KK when he does get to AA, and has a lot more room for failure, just because of having more time. He’s also blessed with much more power than KK has ever had.
cbwilk - May 20, 2009
Agreed.
Cody is someone people look at and say, he hits the ball harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. The guy’s ceiling is someone that can hit 200+ HR in a four year stretch of prime years. I don’t think anyone ever envisioned KK as anything more than a par for the course first baseman at the big league level. Cody just has to keep improving the plate discipline and contact percentage.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
200+ in 4 years? That would make him the best (clean) power hitter of the past 30 years. I would say 200+ in 7 years if we are lucky, 6 years if were really lucky, and 5 years if God is a Braves fan.
ATLandUNC - May 20, 2009
Not really...
It’s 50/year. I’m sure there have been others to do that in the past 30 years.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
I think you can say 40 but not 50. Dunn hits 40 and there arent many that hit more than him
drumzalicious - May 20, 2009
Ryan Howard, Alex Rodriguez, etc…
Not saying I think he can hit that many, but it’s not completely unheard of. Of course, by the time he gets to the majors it might be.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
Dunn has
gargantual power prolly the best in the game as far as pure power. He can hit a homer in any park without a doubt and it still go a long way. But can you put Howard in that argument? I mean is he a 50 homer guy outside of the Philly park? Is he a 50 homer guy in ATL? Prolly not. Howard has alot of power but there is without a doubt that that park helps him. I realize Dunn played in a hitters park also but all of his homers were wayyyyyy out. Howard homers i see some that are wayyyyy out also but i have seen quite a few that wouldn’t be gone in alot of other parks.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
Cody Johnson
hits homers waayyyy out, too. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen him, but the boy has mad power.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
yeah
i know Johnson has mad power, prolly best pure power hitter in the entire minors of any team, close between him and Mike Stanton of the Marlins. But i wasn’t arguin that, cause i know he can hit a homer in any park without a doubt. I mean right now he is hitting in maybe the biggest park in the minors in Myrtle. I was just sayin about how im not sure if Ryan Howard has 50 homer power outside of Philly and in a park like ATL. That was what i was talkin about.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
Except that...
his home/away splits are nearly identical.
In 297 home games, he’s got 92 homers, 5 triples, and 46 doubles. A .585 SLG%.
In 312 away games, he’s got 94 homers, 3 triples, and 63 doubles. A .588 SLG %.
And considering most players tend to play better at home…
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
I dont know maybe its just cause of some of the homers i seen him hit in the Philly park it seems like they just barely get out, not all but some. It would be interesting if he played half his games in a park like Turner Field(its not a hitters park or pitchers park more like neutral with a slight edge to the pitchers) to see just how many homers he can hit.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
Oh god...
Lord knows how well he plays at Turner Field already…
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
lol didn’t mean Turner Field i just said like Turner Field, and who knows if he is as good with the Braves ;)
rockybull - May 20, 2009
I'm convinced that...
if he played for the Braves he’d be the greatest baseball player in the history of the game. All he has to do is be near the “Braves” logo and he mashes and plays gold glove defense.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
lol seems like it.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
According to HitTracker, he averaged 395 feet per HR last season. It may sound good, but he’s actually kinda far down the list. Shocker my boy’s at the top, but some of the others are surprising. Torii Hunter? Never would have guessed.
Smoltz's Beard - May 20, 2009
wow
your right would have never even crossed my mind about Hunter.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
See Howard, Ryan.
I think the + part might be exaggerating, but he’s someone who has 50 HR a year type power.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
I think kK’s problem is they aren’t giving him enough at bats. He doesn’t play every night, they don’t seem to have any faith in KK, he played well enough last year to be at Gwinnett.
MatM - May 20, 2009
Cody is the type of prospect that the Braves will prolly keep him in each level of the minors for 1 season cause he needs the extra time cause of all the strikeouts, he just needs time. But you know he will hit you a ton of homers but also strike out a ton but really whats the difference of him and Dunn? Maybe Dunn walks more and doesn’t strikeout as many times? Even if that is the case thats not bad at all. Gonna be interesting to see what happens with Cody cause i like the guy and think he can possibly be a poor mans Adam Dunn but i dont see much of a future with him with the Atlanta Braves major league team. Braves are gonna take there time with this kid in the minors and try to sell him high in a trade in the future.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
I think Cody will have a higher average than Dunn but definitely not as many walks. I agree about the level per year thing. He should be brought along slowly. He has a lot to learn.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
I think the odds of Cody becoming a productive big leaguer are about 10-to-1. The thing is his ceiling is ridiculous.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
Yeah…His ceiling is monstrous. I don’t think he’ll be the bust that many think, though. I have no real reason other than what I’ve seen with my own eyes.
Little Lady - May 20, 2009
As cb said, he continues to improve
His first year was terrible, and he came back and was dominant the next. Last year, he was terrible in the first half, but was very good in the second half. This year, after a promotion and playing in a notorious pitcher’s park, he is OPSing .950. There’s no guarantee that he will be a star, but his ability to make adjustments is very encouraging.
buzzdeadwax - May 20, 2009
yes and the fact that the Braves knowingly drafted him with holes in his swing tells alot. At the time people said high risk high reward signing. They said Johnson could be a very good player or a total bust. Braves knew this and thought they could get him straightened out and knew it would take time so we will see how it pans out.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
The difference is....
Dunn’s career minor league strikeout rate was 22% and the worst he did at any level was 24% in class A. Cody’s career strikeout rate is 37% and he hasn’t even faced advanced competition yet. Johnson (like Brandon Hicks) will have to make a HUGE change in his approach to ever be a successful regular in the majors. If he ever makes it to the majors, chances are he’ll be a Russell Branyan type player, but chances are he won’t even be that. Just have to keep your fingers crossed.
was385 - May 20, 2009
you could be right
he could be another Branyan. I have no statistics or nothin to say that he wont be. Its one of those things that hopefully he becomes a poor mans Dunn or at least sell high to other GM’s and hope they believe that, either way. I personally think he will be a poor mans Dunn but i mean its possible he may not but i like how he is improvin each time.
rockybull - May 20, 2009
yup
Always have to hope that prospects turn out for the best… at least for your team. And with that ridiculous power, Johnson will get plenty of time to try and prove that as he works his way up through the minors.
was385 - May 20, 2009
Branyan is having a solid year so far.
bigjoe - May 20, 2009
Word. I’d LOVE to have him in RF platooning with Diaz.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
this
Smoltz's Beard - May 20, 2009
Actually meant LF, but RF works too. lol
timmy3 - May 21, 2009
Heyward went 3-4 today with a double...
There’s very little doubt in my mind he could out-produce the guys we have in our corners right now.
timmy3 - May 20, 2009
Maybe we should Furcal him
royhobbs - May 20, 2009
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