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Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 6/26

Gwinnett 2, Columbus 8

  • M. Young 2-4 2B, BB, .303 Avg
  • M. Diaz 1-3
  • D. Hernandez 2-4 K, .357 Avg
  • W. Timmons 1-4 HR(2), .284 Avg
  • J. Schafer 1-4 K, .220 Avg
  • M. Dunn 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K .76 ERA
  • C. Kimbrel 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 2K 1.13 ERA

Tim Gustafson gave up 7 runs in the 1st inning and the fantastic Gwinnett bullpen gave up just 1 run for the next 7 innings with just 4 hits allowed and 7K. Jordan Schafer gunned a runner down at 3B which makes me a little happy knowing that his D is still spot on. Matt Diaz made a rehab start today and we may need him back soonish if Heyward is going to be out.

Mobile 10, Mississippi 2

  • W. Cabrera 2-5 SB(5), .314 Avg
  • M. Gomez 3-4 2B, RBI, .258 Avg
  • C. Rodriguez 1-4 2B, RBI, K, .208 Avg

When Mississippi uses both Richard Sullivan and Jake Thompson in the same game you know two things - 1. You are going to see a lot of groundballs 2. You are going to see a lot of runs. The two of them gave up 9 runs in 7 innings (granted 8 from Thompson) and got 11 ground outs. Mississippi's offense just isn't good enough to come back from that kind of deficit, especially when facing a pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA.

Myrtle Beach 6, Potomac 8

  • My. Jones 2-5 K, PO, .362 Avg
  • T. Jones 2-4 HR(5), 2 RBI, .262 Avg
  • D. Nelson 2-3 HR(6), 2 RBI, .274 Avg
  • R. Delgado 5IP 5H 5R 1BB 4K 2.76 ERA

Randall Delgado had his worst start of the season after having 6 days off. All of the damage came in 2nd inning when Delgado hit the leadoff man, walked the next batter, and then gave up a triple single and homer. He then proceeded to strike out the next two batters and induce a groundout. Outside of that inning he allowed just 2 other batters to reach base. I love that he can just bounce back from a rough inning like that.

Rome 6, Lexington 10

  • P. Gosselin 1-3 2B, BB, K
  • B. Schlehuber 1-1 RBI, BB, SB(1), .213 Avg
  • M. Weaver 2-2 2B, RBI, BB, .223 Avg
  • C. Brewer 5.2IP 8H 3R 3BB 3K 1.66 ERA

This Rome team has to be one of the worst fielding teams in the minors. They racked up 5 more errors today and while only 2 runs were unearned errors still have a trickle down effect on the entire game that doesn't necessarily show up in the box score. 2010 5th round draftee Phil Gosselin made his professional debut for Rome tonight and for the most part it was successful. He profiles as a doubles hitter who could play multiple positions (but 2B is where he is going to stick) and will probably move quickly if his bat plays out.

Danville 9, Bluefield 2

  • R. Flores 2-4 3 RBI, K, .333 Avg
  • R. Brooks 1-5 3B, 2 RBI, K, .100 Avg
  • B. Kleinknecht 1-5 HR(1), K, .238 avg
  • A. Odreman 3-4 RBI, BB, K, .455 Avg
  • D. Filak 3IP 0H 0R 3BB 3K
  • T. Stovall 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K

Danville improves to 5-0 on the season and it appears just about everyone on the team can hit the ball. Also I do not know how I missed a Robert Brooks sighting over the last few days. Brooks is a 2B who had an impressive debut with the Braves in 2008 in the GCL after the Braves took him in the 20th round of the draft that season. Brooks missed all of 2009 with an injury and made his season with Danville on June 22. He is already 22 years old so if he is going to do anything he needs to do it quick.

GCL Braves 5, GCL Pirates 2

  • W. Beckwith 2-5 .300 Avg
  • E. Sanchez 2-4 2B, K, .417 Avg
  • W. Rivera 1-3 HR(1), 2 RBI, BB, .316 avg

Edison Sanchez moved back to 3B today and put together a solid game. I would really like to know what we have with this kid. A 19 year old 3B who has shown good power and the ability to take a walk would appear to be a solid prospect to me. His listed 6'4" frame is another aspect that you have to be excited about (as a baseball fan...) though it may mean he grows out of 3B at some point.

DSL Braves - Off Day

0 recs  |  48 comments

Comments

Jordan Schafer

is starting to worry me.

I've been saying it for a while.

He’s going to need the rest of the season just to start feeling normal again with the bat. He did miss most of last season and a big chunk of the one before. If he’s still struggling in AAA next year, then I’ll be worried.

So if he continues to hit .220 with basically no power nor OBP skills for the rest of the season you won’t be worried?

I suspect he really screwed up his swing when he was trying to play through the broken wrist (Let’s not start the “broken, not-broken” argument). I mean, thinking about making contact with a bad wrist makes me wince. His mechanics surely suffered as he attempted to find a way to swing that reduced the sting on his wrist.

But I think he’s talented enough that he’ll get it back at some point. I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes all year.

I agree...

Wrist injuries are a bitch and a half. The thing with Jordan was that he was never a huge average hitter, but he could hit some Home Runs to compensate. His average is a little lower, but the wrist injury probably sapped most of his power. That’s what he needs at bats for. It will hopefully come back, and if he can put that together with his defense, he will be a good major leaguer.

Has he done that yet?...

remember when some of us were saying those things about Glaus in late April, or Escobar a month ago, among others. Let’s see how he does going forward before actually saying what those numbers will be.

Maybe your expectations for him are just higher than mine.

But no, I wouldn’t really be worried. I think it’ll take a while before his wrist and swing feel right. As long as he’s hitting by next year, I’ll be happy.

same....

that it will take a while for the wrist to get back to 100%, which it may not still be. We could see his numbers take off in the next few months.

said this a while ago

and got booed

RE: Edison Sanchez

How big does a guy have to get to grow out of 3B??? Troy Glaus played most of his career there at 6’5" 230-250.

You make a solid point, but I was more speaking to the fact that he is already playing games at 1B and if his bat is good he may slide over to speed the development of his bat so his defense doesn’t hinder it.

I think he's playing 1st so they can work everyone in with Drury, De Los Santos, Reyes, and Lipka

among the IFs. And it’s not like Chipper is any shorter.

also a solid point, though Chipper has never really been considered a standout defensive 3B

Of course, Chipper came up as a shortstop. He had some good speed at one point. He outgrew that position.

Glaus had a SS background too...

Scott Rolen is another taller 3B. Every time he plays Atlanta they seem to point out he signed with Georgia out of high school to play basketball. There have been plenty of 3B that tall, if he is that tall. Not saying he’s shorter than 6’4, just that those listings aren’t always accurate.

Technically

Chipper didn’t out grow the SS position, he had a major knee injury that limited his range so he was basically forced to 3B.

Before the knee problems

The Braves were going to send him to the OF anyway.

replacing Ron Gant after his accident
Tyler Stovall hasn't walked a batter for the second appearance in a row.

Checking supplies in my storm shelter…

no doubt. but he has also been appearing in relief which I am not a fan of.

what was the issue with his control?...

was it all pitches or just his breaking stuff? If he’s focusing on heaters coming out of the bullpen maybe that explains the improved control.

Yes

Control and command of his FB was his issue. You can throw mid 90s but if you don’t know where it’s going then it’s useless. Against young inexperienced guys you can get away with that but against more advanced hitters not so much.

I had heard that his FB had so much movement that he really had no idea where it was going most of the time.

Maybe

The Braves are starting him out in the BP for him to gain some confidence first before putting him back in the rotation similar to how the Rays did Jacob McGee. Stovall has a mid 90s FB with a great CB so hopefully they’ll move him back into the rotation soon.

Or that feedback issue...

someone mentioned the other day. By going out more frequently he can get more frequent feedback on how his control his, his mechanics are, etc.

I love Michael Dunn
What in God's name does he have to do to get a promotion?

To be perfectly honest, either EOF, Venters of Wags has to get hurt.

I’m guessing we’ll see him in September when the rosters expand.

I honestly would be ok with trading EOF and giving Dunn a shot
EOF

I personally don’t like trading away a guy who’s already proven he can get out ML hitters but Dunn has been lights out and deserves a chance with the club. If the Braves could get a good piece or two for him or package him to get that elusive ‘big bat’ I would mind dealing him and bringing up Dunn.

Maybe in the off season, but I doubt it in a playoff run

Randall looked great tonight aside from that one inning. I think he hit Burgess as a payback for them hitting LV Ware to leadoff the game. It was in basically the same spot, right in the meat of his stomach. After that he hung some pitches and got knocked around, but after a talk with third baseman Dan Nelson he settled down. His FB was right around 94, his curve, which was amazing, stayed around 78, and his changeup was right at 82. I watched his warmup in the bullpen and I was glad I was a few feet away, cause 94 and moving is scary that close.

Paul Clemens pitched great in relief but they kept him in too long. He should have come out after 2, and I think that’s what led to the problems in the 8th. He looked fantastic tonight and in the bullpen session I saw on Thursday. Apparently last year the Braves had him get rid of his extended leg kick and made him throw over the top. He didn’t do so well and this year he went back to the more natural stuff, the leg kick and the low 3/4 delivery, and he’s been dominating.

Mike Jones (the first baseman) is very stiff. I wasn’t very impressed by his effort at the plate or in the field. We’ve been wondering about Myke Jones’ errors and I’m gonna guess that a few of them have been because of other players. He had a tough play at SS and threw on in the dirt to first, but it should have been an easy scoop but it just thudded off Mike’s glove. The batter was given a hit because it was a tough play, but it’s not hard to see how plays like that become throwing errors when they really shouldn’t be. Also on the subject of Myke Jones, he had one of the better bunt singles I’ve ever seen tonight.

And my boy LV Ware is crazy fast. Barely contested on either of his steals tonight.

Speaking of LV Ware...

I was really blown away when I checked out his blog a little while back. He really comes across as an intriguing, cerebral kind of guy, unlike the classic pro athlete stereotype.

Yeah, he’s a very complex dude. Cause he can come off like the regular old knucklehead jock, or at least as a guy who just likes to goof off and have fun, but then you talk to him a little and he’s incredibly intelligent and thoughtful. He’s a guy I’ve really been happy to be able to say I’ve become friends with. One of the things I love about going to games and meeting the players is that you get to meet so many outstanding people that you’d never get to meet otherwise.

that sounds awesome, man

Who would win a race between LV and Cole Miles?

Cole Miles got down the line faster than anyone I’ve seen up close in a while on Friday…he stole 2nd and 3rd uncontested (the box on MiLB.com was wrong, he stole 2)….

Plus he’s got short legs….it’s uncanny.

Mike Jones is quite unimpressive…bad filler…

I might take Cole in that one. I think he is slightly faster. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to figure out how to get on base enough to use that speed.

He is filler, and lower level filler...

what did you expect?

Expect?

Not a whole lot, but for a guy who has played at higher levels, watching him is depressing.

He has a bad body, bad body language, and oozes laziness and lax attitude.

For a guy who comes down to hopefully add a little protection in the order for your up and comers, you’d like to see a little more dedication and professionalism.

You can tell by watching the guy that he rolls out of bed, eats, puts on the uni, half-heartedly stretches and jogs a little, stands around joking 75% of the time, and then takes his 9 to 12 hacks, and calls it a day….i’ve seen it time and again…he’s that guy.

I don’t like THAT guy.

Oh and in his case, he eats again between getting his running in and taking the field...

Probably between ABs…you don’t cultivate an ass like that just sitting on the bus….

I listened to the game

Besides that 2nd inning Delgado was dominant. My theory on plunking guys is do it after the 2nd out w/ nobody on base. I love how the kid handled pitched after that rough inning.

Were you able to get a consistent reading on Clemens’ FB, the announcers stated that he hit 95 once but didn’t say much more. In Danville he touched 98 a couple times I can remember.

They don’t have a radar gun reading available anywhere in the park, but I went over and asked Matt Crim about the guys during the game and he said Clemens was sitting about 94, hitting 96 a few times.

Question:

Delgado is listed as having 1 K, but you mention that he “proceeded to strike out the next two batters”

Also, good to see Filak throw well.

Filak

He had a shaky 1st inning where he walked 3 guys but settled down nicely and didn’t allow anything after.

When are we compiling mid-season prospect rankings around here?

I’m trying to figure out just how to rank some of this year’s draft picks.

We’ll be putting up our top 25 (30?) lists during the AS break then putting it to the community the day after the AS game.

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