Talking Chop

Gwinnett was 6-1 this week (9.5 GB), Mississippi was 4-3 (2 GB), Myrtle Beach was 2-5 (3 GB), Rome was 3-4 (4 GB), Danville was 2-5 (1 GB), the GCL Braves were 3-3 (1.5 GB), and the DSL Braves were 4-3 (1 game ahead).

Who's Hot?

1. Freddie Freeman - 10-29, 4 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB - Freeman may have turned in the best week of an Braves farmhand this season, with .345 average and a 1.146 OPS. In addition to his great work with the bat he played his typical stellar defense and even stole a pair of bases, doubling his total from all of last season.
   
2. Matt Lipka - 9-20, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, SB - The Braves' first pick of the 2010 draft got off to a bit of a slow start for the Orlando Braves, but he heated things up this week to the tune of a .450 AVG and a 1.072 OPS. You have to love the .522 OBP out of a player who projects to hit at the top of the order.
3. David Hale - 1-1, 5.2 IP, 1 R, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K - It's been a split season for Hale, as he's had a 9.00 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP in 27 innings as a starter, but after throwing 5.2 relief innings without allowing an earned run this week, he has a 2.38 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 22 innings as a reliever. He's also striking out 10.7 per 9 as a reliever.
4. Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg - 10-26, 2 2B, RBI, BB - RSF didn't miss a beat after returing from a broken hand, rapping out a .385 average and a .830 OPS. If he continues his success at Rome, there's little doubt he'll soon move up to Myrtle Beach.
   

Honorable Mention: Wes Timmons, Craig Kimbrel, Mike Minor, Diory Hernandez, Mike Dunn, Cory Gearrin, Steve Marek, Gwinnett; Juan Abreu, Brandon Beachy, Scott Diamond, Tim Gustafson, Lee Hyde, Jesus Sucre, Willie Cabrera, Mississippi; David Francis, Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens, JJ Hoover, Myke Jones, Cory Harrilchak, Luis Sumoza, Myrtle Beach; Wilton Estevez, Matt Fouch, Julio Surinach, Andrew Wilson, Jordan Kreke, Todd Cunningham, Rome; Tyler Stovall, Jace Whitmer, Alberto Odreman, Bobby Rauh, David Filak, Willie Kempf, Lucas La Point, Carlos Perez, jason Mowry, Ryan Delgado, Danville; Jonathan Burns, Luis de Luna, Amilcar Gaxiola, Dan Jurik, Williams Perez, GCL Braves; Eduardo Castillo, Jesus Saldeno, Elvin Garcia, Aris Alcantra DSL Braves

Who's Not?

1. Richard Sullivan - 0-1, 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 K - Sullivan only had 1 start this week, but was kicked around to the tune of a 32.40 ERA and a 4.79 WHIP. He's been completely overmatched at AA this year, with a 1-8 record, a 6.72 ERA, and a 1.74 WHIP.
   
2. Julio Teheran - 0-2, 10.1 IP, 11 R, 10 ER, 14 H, 5 BB, 9 K - Teheran's second start of the week was actually pretty solid, even though he took the loss, but his first was bad enough to make his total line look terrible, with a 8.71 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP.
3. Samuel Sime - 3-23, 2B, RBI, BB, 6 K - Sime got his season off to a hot start and even though he still wasn't hitting with much power, he was showing more promise than he had in any of his previous seasons. But, after hitting just .130 with a pathetic .314 OPS this week, he's down to a .252 average and a .625 OPS for the season.
   
4. Kurt Fleming, David Rohm, and Wilson Rivera - 9-58, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 9 K, SB - The GCL team's regular outfielders didn't do much this week, combining to hit just .155 with a pathetic .387 OPS. These guys are young and talented, but they all hit a cold streak this week.

Dishonorable Mention: Jordan Schafer, Gwinnett; Mike Broadway, Jaye Chapman, Jacob Thompson, Donell Linares, Mississippi; Randall Delgado, Matt Kennelly, Travis Jones, Matt Crim, Cole Miles, LV Ware, Myrtle Beach; Caleb Brewer, Christian Bethancourt, Chris Masters, Robby Hefflinger, Rome; Kyle Farrell, Edigson Mora, Aaron Northcraft, Elmer Reyes, Andrelton Simmons, Jamie Hayes, Matt Suschak, Danville, Ernesto Silva, Brandon Drury, GCL Braves

Stock Up - Gwinnett Bullpen - The Gwinnett bullpen has been especially good this season and the young guns have led the way, with Craig Kimbrel collecting 11 saves with a 0.95 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP and his closing partner Mike Dunn collecting 7 saves with a 0.69 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Cory Gearrin has done well setting them up, with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP in a team leading 29 games, and the pen has been bolstered by the addition of Steve Marek, who has combined for a 0.75 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP between Mississippi and Gwinnett.

Stock Down - Travis Jones - After hitting .249 with a .706 OPS with Mississippi last season, Jones returned there to start 2010, but was demoted after hitting just .225 with a .600 OPS in 71 plate appearances. He started off strong at Myrtle Beach, but after hitting .080 with a .268 OPS this week he's down to a .235 average and a .747 OPS in 132 at bats for the Pelicans. He's 24 years old and not having much luck at a level he's already had success at, so things aren't looking good for the middle infielder.