The Atlanta Braves made their second round of spring roster cuts today, and they ran a little deeper with at least one unexpected name on the list:
The Atlanta Braves trimmed their spring roster by six players today, optioning two players and re-assigning four others. Left-handed pitcher Michael Dunn and right-handed pitcher Jeff Lyman were optioned to Gwinnett (AAA).
The four players who were re-assigned to minor league camp include left-handed pitcher Mariano Gomez, catcher Orlando Mercado and outfielders Brent Clevlen and Mitch Jones.
None of the hitters were unexpected, and Gomez is certainly not a surprise, but the first two relievers are kind of a surprise, especially Mike Dunn. He had pitched well lately, after suffering through some control issues earlier this spring. Lyman was also a surprise, as he was having a good spring, especially in the control department. Odds are we'll probably see each of these guys in Atlanta at some point this season anyway.
I'm glad to see Clevlen and Mitch Jones cut. Matt Young, who stays around instead of them, has 5 hits this spring to the collective 4 hits between Clevlen and Jones. Their spring of futility is finally over.
0 recs | 23 comments
4A
I’m all for catching lightning in a bottle… but perhaps there’s a reason those two are your typical 4A players. Good news for the organizational guys though.
rbratt3 - March 21, 2010
I really hope Venters makes the pen. He has been surprisingly very good this spring and our best lefty outside of OFlaherty and Wagner.
I wonder what they would do if Kimbrel goes to AAA. Would they make him the closer and bump Gomez to a SU man role?
Either way it would kinda be nice to see Kimbrel and Venters make the team although i have a feeling Chavez will get the spot and they will send Kimbrel to AAA
drumzalicious - March 21, 2010
I’m fantasizing about some 8-9inning dominance at AAA from Dunn and Kimbrel, foreshadowing years of insanity in ATL’s bullpen.
bwellnjonesco - March 21, 2010
what about
Gomez?
drumzalicious - March 21, 2010
Honestly, I’d be surprised if he ever pitches for the Braves at the ML level. We have too many guys in front of him.
bwellnjonesco - March 22, 2010
Yeah, I am definitely pulling for Venters. Apparently Cox loves the guy’s sinker.
ATLforlife - March 21, 2010
Yeah the last two pen spots seems to be down to Proctor Chavez Venters and Reyes … and dare I say Manny Acosta?
JKowalek - March 21, 2010
Kimbrel is still in the mix too
it’ll be interesting to see how they start out those last two bullpen spots. I’m selfishly wanting Proctor to spend that first month on the farm until one of the others creates room (injury or ineffectiveness?), just so we can squeeze that extra year out of him.
Has Matt Young gotten any IF work this spring?
Mr. Sanchez - March 21, 2010
I'd like to see Kimbrel up ASAP
as long as his control is ready.
JKowalek - March 21, 2010
I'm wary of Devining Kimbrel.
The pen should be fine for the first half of the year, let’s let him prove his control is ready in AAA first.
Jacob Peterson - March 21, 2010
Kimbrel
Is nothing like Devine. Devine was brought up after a couple months in the minors and Kimbrel has had a year and a half in the minors.
Jay212033 - March 21, 2010
Devine had an extra year of amatuer seasoning and thus moved faster as expected. Plus I think that statement was referring more to a lack of major league ready control rather than time spent in the minors.
ajones2522 - March 21, 2010
Yeah, hopefully we can get max value for Proctor. I want to see Chavez for a month, and if he falters the job’s all Proctor’s.
ATLforlife - March 21, 2010
Of those 4,
Give me Proctor and Venters (assuming Proctor can pitch back-to-back pretty soon).
Jacob Peterson - March 21, 2010
I'm just glad Jeff Bennett isn't with us anymore.
Scott Coleman - March 21, 2010 via mobile
+1
ATLforlife - March 21, 2010
and to be honest
I bet the doors and lockers in the Atlanta clubhouse are pretty damn happy too.
Scott Coleman - March 21, 2010
Yeah,
I heard he’s in rehab for anger management, he and Charlie Sheen are roomies!
HEYJUDE - March 21, 2010
Has anyone thought
of the fact that we might be trading one of these guys? I mean i doubt we trade Kimbrel but with some teams having bullpen injuries we could trade from whats is basically a surplus of relievers.
drumzalicious - March 21, 2010
No. No. No.
You can NEVER have enough relief pitchers at the beginning of a season.
Scott Coleman - March 21, 2010 via mobile
i was referring to
guys like Acosta, Reyes, etc.
Basically those that can be moved out of AAA for last years AA pitchers so our surplus of A ball pitchers have somewhere to go lol
drumzalicious - March 22, 2010
Options left
You would never trade a player that has an option….I think of that group…Acosta may be out of options?
calbers - March 21, 2010
There’s an article on MLBTR that says a Japanese team is looking at Jo-Jo.
MO'toole - March 22, 2010
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