Atlanta Braves News

If we get a second Acuna type in the OF that would be awesome ... but we haven't really done much about our relief pitching, have we ???

 

You are 100% right on the relievers. A.A. is on record saying Kimbrell is out of reach for what he deems an end of game salary. We know as fans, how frustrating the late innings were last year. It would help O’Day, Minter, Vizcaino, all slide down to the earlier frames.

Riley might only need a position to play. What if Donaldson only stays the one year? Back to 3B for Austin and hopefully we keep Camargo. He’s my favorite amoungst underrated players.

 

MLB Pipeline, Braves in top 100:
24. Mike Soroka

30. Kyle Wright

32. Ian Anderson

37. Cristian Pache

38. Austin Riley

50. Touki Toussaint

82. Bryse Wilson

86. Drew Waters

 

The 40 man roster invitees such as Austin Riley will be at Spring Training, along with.......
As of right now, it appears that Ian Anderson, Kyle Muller, Joey Wentz, Tucker Davidson, Corbin Clouse, and Thomas Burrows will be in big league camp during spring training for the Braves.

— Eric Cole (@leprekhan) January 26, 2019

 

Keith Law’s Top 50, includes 4 Braves:
No. 22 - Kyle Wright - RHP
No. 26 - Touki Toussaint - RHP
No. 30 - Ian Anderson - RHP
No. 45 - Cristian Pache - OF

Braves 40 man plus Spring Training invites:
https://www.talkingchop.com/2018/10/31/18049546/atlanta-braves-40-man-roster-updated

 

What do gents. think of our offense(not that he’s a slouch at calling a game behind the plate, or tossing out runners)with JT Real. in the lineup? I’m liking Kake/Margo platoon in RF better, if we make the acquisition without giving up a Major Leaguer other than Flowers. Riley might be up by May, to take Camargo’s role in RF-allowing Johan to move around to back up 7 positions.
Culberson again helps the bench. Swanson should be injury free to start out.

Here’s a wishful prediction:
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovance makes six bold predictions for February and No. 3 is that Atlanta will land catcher J.T. Realmuto from the Miami Marlins. Trade discussions involving the Marlins’ catcher are reportedly heating up according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. There are four teams involved including the Padres, Reds, Dodgers and Braves.

 

I like the offense as is right now. I really like Camargo as the super utility guy though. He and Culberson provide us with depth at every position. JT would put us over the top though.

 

I personally was hoping for an over-the-top guy addition to our offense ... but right now I would settle for bullpen help.

 

A healthy Donaldson does that for us. Dude will hit 35 HRs and have 100+ RBIs.

 

If healthy yes.

Riley has a pretty broad range of opinions, 38 on MLB and unranked on Law’s? I don’t have ESPN insider so I can’t see Law’s but is that right, he wasn’t even top 100 on his?

 

Law left out White and other studs, as when he doesn’t often see them play or as he supposedly did not attend the recent AFL. I don’t have a subscription, although found this:
Third baseman Austin Riley was named as an honorable mention. Law has never been high on Riley as a prospect and this was the first season that Riley has landed on his Top 100 prospect list. Law praised his work at improving himself defensively while answering a lot of the questions he had at the plate. Riley’s biggest obstacle for 2019 may be finding a path to the major leagues where Atlanta currently has Josh Donaldson and Johan Camargo as options at third base.

Guess it’s an opinionated farm evaluation for these guys. Some complain the prospects are in MLB and not on BA, and vice versa. Keith Law, all over the place, when I peruse other comments read on other feedback sites.

My good longtime buddy Walter Banks is getting his own bobble head night this year on July 5, his 80th birthday. Many of you might remember him working Section 1 at BDS for years, and over a decade and a half at Alexander Memorial. The nicest friend a guy could want. I believe he told me Uber(maybe it was Lyft?)picks him up at home and returns him from Sun Trust Park for each home game. Complimentary.

Donaldson gets a bobble head day, too. May 16. Let’s hope he plays and plays well, then signs for the end of his career or productive years as he is 33 right now.

 

Mr. Banks has been volunteering for the Super Bowl this week(even though not inside Mercedes Benz). This was the resume that I submitted to Mayor Franklin, for her to allow me to present Walter with the Phoenix Award a/k/a the key to the City of Atlanta, prior to a Braves game(I unintentionally omitted his friendship with President Bill Clinton)and this was from 10 years ago, approximately:
48 years w/Rich's/Macy's, 43 years w/Atlanta Braves, 15 years w/Ga.Tech and Greeter for the Ga. Dome Press Box. Born in Atl. in 1939 and finished H.S. here in 1957. President Jimmy Carter said that Walter is the best usher in the world(did a commercial in Plains, Ga. together). In 2002, Walter was elected to the Ga. Hospitality Hall of Fame. Ted Turner's private suite was renamed for Walter(in Turner Field, adjacent to the owner's box). Mr Banks helps feed the needy and homeless on M.L.K. Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day each year at Turner Field. He teaches us to serve others. He has spoken in churches such as First Baptist on "Serving Others", as a guest of Pastor Johnny Fain. He does not miss work . He is known for numbers. Give him any, and he can give you 10-20 degrees of separation. He is gentle, compassionate and dedicated. He will work in any type of climate. He loves people and Atlanta, the city. He helped put us on the map along with Mr. Henry Aaron. He is always the first person to show up for work in a mail room, ushering lounge, stadium or arena. Children ask for his autograph, so I consider him a celebrity as well. A key to the City would be fitting for this very humble man. He has served in Aisle 107 since the first game in old Atlanta Stadium and continues at Turner Field, still today. He has served the City of Atlanta with over 100 years of work experience with 4 jobs that I know of. I challenge any human to do that much for that long a period of time and still love all of humanity. I know he is proud of his two grandchildren as his two kids that he helped raise. He is loved at the businesses he has served for so long in many mornings, noons and nights. I have spoken to several at all places. I have witnessed him at 2 of the jobs myself, while watching him interact. A more finer person cannot be found. Please pull up www.gojackets.com and look at Mar. 5th, 2008, under the hive sports center forum. You will see what people wrote about Walter when the topic of a Ga. Tech Night was brought up. I love learning from him(he tries to learn one thing every day, himself). He believes you don't get somewhere by yourself. Every spoke on the wheel is important. He is just so proud to be here as he was once quoted for a magazine article....

Please go out and greet him on July 5th. He would love it!
For the record, I worked for the Braves in the ‘70’s, and that’s how I met him.

 

• The Braves have reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with veteran reliever Ben Rowen. Rowen, an extreme submariner, is the owner of a rare high-grounder, low-walk profile, and has turned in a number of impressive seasons at the AAA level. The 30-year-old’s last big-league appearance came in 2016 with Milwaukee, for whom he made three late-season appearances. The Virginia Tech-product debut also threw 8 innings for the 2014 Rangers, but has mostly made his way around the International and Pacific Coast Leagues over the last six seasons. In 245 career innings at the Triple-A level, the 6’4 righty has pitched to a stellar 3.08 ERA, allowing just 0.44 homers per nine. He figures to be a candidate for the Peter Moylanrole at the front end of the Atlanta bullpen, and should make a nifty righty specialist if the club can spare the roster space.

 

Sifting through the weeds, the Braves picked up this veteran minor leaguer and assigned him to AA Mississippi:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/...n=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-




Interesting rule change proposals:
https://nypost.com/2019/02/05/mlb-union-propose-changes-to-rules-that-could-alter-baseball/

 

The word going around up here in sportstalk radio in that the National League may very well approve the DH. That would change National League style baseball significantly. There may also be a rule accepted in MLB that relief pitchers will be required to face three batters. That could be called the Devil Rays rule.

 

JT Realmuto to the Phillies. Three prospects and International Bonus slot $.
Fish have been gutted.

 

I'm glad that we didn't get Realmuto considering how much Philly had to give up.

 

Here are some interested 2019 MLB predictions that predict the Braves will finish 82-80 and be tied for 3rd in the NL East with the Phillies

https://www.rotochamp.com/baseball/ProjectedStandings.aspx

 

Count me among the followers who are glad we didn’t give up three top prospects for JT Real.(Fish regard Will Stewart who was the third chip in the deal, as the Phils. #2 pitching prospect in their system)....
Reports have stated that the Bravos would have had to surrender Riley, Pache and one of the top 6 pitchers on the Farm(all top 100, in baseball). That’s 3 gems with only 2 guaranteed years for the all-star catcher.

 

ESPN gave the upcoming Braves Spring Training an excitement rating of 5. They said "Imagine the excitement if the Braves would have signed Bryce Harper or traded for JT Realmuto like they should have done".

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25952980/one-thing-watch-spring-training-all-30-teams