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Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot Mar 14 2016 01:26 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 15 2016 03:54 AM

Even coming off a 95 loss season which had virtually zero effect on our own pennant chase (although the Mets won ‘only’ 11 of 19 in 2015) it still seems odd to be a Met fan and look at the Braves roster and immediately think of the old Butch & Sundance line; “Who are those guys?” But that’s pretty much what’s going to happen the first series or two this season on account of, since the 2013 season, the Braves have traded, dumped, or let walk via FA-gency the following familiar names, many of whom they had only recently signed to lengthy and expensive contracts: Brian McCann -- Dan Uggla -- Andrelton Simmons -- Chris Johnson -- Justin & Melvin Upton -- Jason Heyward -- Evan Gattis -- Jordan Schafer -- Mike Minor -- Shelby Miller Kris Medlen -- Craig Kimbrel -- Alex Wood -- Ervin Santana -- Cameron Maybin -- plus a score of lesser names. ... which essentially leaves them with a bunch of names we either don’t know or won’t connect to Atlanta. What they got back from all those transactions was some 'bridge' type players who can adequately man the positions now, plus a whole ton of recent high draft picks from other teams (mostly notably SD & Arz) who may be up as early as this season and ideally for their big suburban move next year. Yes, remember that this is their final season in Olympic/Ted Turner Stadium and, for that matter, the city of Atlanta itself. So what's up with these guys? 1B - Freddie Freeman is the last of the new/old guard, starting his 6th full season though still just 26 y/o and signed thru 2021. Likely to be backed up by everyone’s favorite, Nick Swisher. 2B - Jace Peterson — was mostly their full-time 2B last season. SS - Erick Aybar — 32 y/o vet picked up from Anaheim over the winter (along with two pitchers in exchange for Andrelton Simmons), they’d like him to hold the fort until #1/1 2015 draft pick (from Arz) Dansby Swanson is ready to take over (or, judging by that name, to mix the martinis at the next polo match). 3B - 31 y/o (or so he says) Cuban signee Adonis Garcia, who played part of 2015 in Atlanta with mixed results Former ChiSox 1st round pick Gordon Beckham and the re-re-acquired Kelly Johnson will back up at 2nd & 3rd and maybe even SS LF - Another Cuban escapee Hector Olivera. He’s the guy the Dodgers signed to a $64 million deal last May and, within two months and with barely 100 minor league ABs under his belt, dealt him to Atlanta in a multi-team/multi-player deal while also agreeing to pay nearly half ($28 million) of the barely dry contract. At this point he could be another Yasiel Puig or another Rich Puig or anywhere in between. CF — Ender Inciarte This 25 y/o Venezuelan has kind of anonymously (at least back here in the east) been a pretty good player for Arizona for the last two seasons. RF — Nick Markakis 32 y/o and starting his 2nd year with the Braves after a bunch with Baltimore Michael (aren’t you glad we didn’t sign him?) Bourn looks to be the first OF back-up all around, and maybe Swisher as well if Atlanta mgmt didn’t have the good sense to confiscate his OF glove as he entered camp this spring. C - AJ Pierzynski — he was supposed to merely hold down the job for Christian Bethancourt but Bethancourt decided to suck instead and so the 56 y/o Pierzynski -- entering his 19th season -- will be the main guy again, probably backed up by former ChiSox (though originally a Braves draft pick and Georgia native) Tyler Flowers Pitchers Julio Teheran - pairs with FFF (Fuckin’ Freddie Freeman, as Zvon calls him) to form the pitching half of the “old” guard, if one can consider 25 to be old when already starting his 4th full season in ‘lanta. But after him they’ve got some question marks: - Bud Norris was signed as a FA after having some up and down years with Baltimore before being released in mid-2015 and then scuffling in relief with San Diego - Jhoulys Chacin is a FA who was released by the Rox, Indians and DBacks last year and started just 4 games all season. - Matt Wisler also came via SD (in the Kimbrel deal) and started regularly for the Braves after a mid-season call-up That crew (after Teheran) seem mostly like place-holders for young guys they’re hoping for - though none, as of yet, are even on their 40-man roster: - Aaron Blair (23) was a 1st round pick by the DBacks and has little left to prove in the minors - Lucas Sims is their own 1st rounder (2012 - out of a Georgia HS of course) who we may see later in the year - Sean Newcomb (LH) is supposedly the most promising of the bunch, he's a former LAA 1st round pick who may also be a mid-season guy although the Braves have been known to promote aggressively. 39 y/o Jason Grilli is supposed to close for them (as he did last year) although he doesn’t seem to have pitched so far this spring so I’m not sure what the story is there. And I’m not even going to get into speculating on the rest of the pen at this point since their camp seems to have more pitchers than the table at your post-Friday happy hour. This team may score some runs if the high-priced Cuban talent is worth what they (or the Dodgers) are paying it. But unless several of those question mark signings work out and a bunch of that young pitching blossoms quickly, they're probably going to give up even more runs and, realistically, I think they're aiming towards 2017-18 to be in contention again.

Edgy MD Mar 14 2016 01:34 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I hadn't realized Kelly Johnson didn't even have a position.

Frayed Knot Mar 14 2016 03:43 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Part of this is me guessing who the starters are going to be at each spot, but Johnson really hasn't been a full-timer since 2012 w/Toronto as he's been shuffled between six teams since (and this will be his 3rd stint w/the Braves). But his versatility has been getting him 300 or so ABs/season since and any injury or slump at 3 or 4 different positions could very well get him that amount again this year.

Lefty Specialist Mar 14 2016 03:32 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Wow. That team is reallllllly gonna suck.

Frayed Knot Mar 15 2016 03:47 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Certainly a lot would have to go right for them -- good health, contributions from both Cuban imports, plus several young pitchers riding to the rescue ahead of schedule -- in order to contend this year. btw, the Braves schedule calls for them to host a regular season home game this year at Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC (some 350 miles from Atlanta) on Sunday July 3rd vs Marlins - and it will be that week's ESPN Sunday Night telecast. The field is being built with a temporary 12,500 seat 'stadium' around it which will then be converted into a permanent softball field for use by the base. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/166636990 ... -on-july-3

Edgy MD Mar 15 2016 04:08 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I salute real season games in guest venues. Bring back the HoF Game and make it count. Make the Civil Rights game count. Play a Civil War game with no outfield walls. Play a game in Africa. Pay tribute to Roberto Clemente by building an MLB-quality diamond in Carolina and playing there. Play in Parc Jarry. Play in Western Canada. Build a floating ball field and play in the Pacific Ocean, with the stands suspended from the sides of two giant aircraft carriers, attached at a right angle, with one going down the first base side and one going to the third base side. Pick the most economically distressed town and play a game there, with each team's owners committing to open a small business there before they leave. Anyhow, feel free to start (and maintain!) any division opponent threads that haven't happened yet.

Frayed Knot Mar 15 2016 01:35 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Edgy MD wrote: Anyhow, feel free to start (and maintain!) any division opponent threads that haven't happened yet. Nats already done -- viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23952&hilit=gnats -- but threads for Phlorida and the Fillies are still wanting.

TransMonk Mar 30 2016 04:59 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Looks like Frenchy will make the Braves' Opening Day roster. http://www.talkingchop.com/2016/3/29/11 ... nta-braves

Edgy MD Apr 02 2016 03:40 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

But the dream of a Torres reunion dies, as Carlos T. asks for and receives his release, presumably exercising a contract clause that allowed him to go free if he didn't make the team out of camp.

Edgy MD Apr 07 2016 02:33 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

John Gant, who went from the Mets to the Braves in the Johnson/Uribe deal, has made his debut for Atlanta. And, um, he pitches like this... [youtube:ebwlwt9r]4EoREMtZiYU[/youtube:ebwlwt9r] Wtf is that?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 07 2016 02:40 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Is he allowed to do that with guys on base? I don't even pretend to understand how to interpret the balk rule.

Edgy MD Apr 07 2016 02:59 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Well, if he does, presumably the "stop" he has to come to would be the one before he rotates and does the stutter step, as he's not stopping at all there, which suggests to me that any runner on base would get a flying start. So, I'd guess he's got a traditional delivery with runners on base.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 09 2016 10:02 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I missed this tranny-action but the Braves scooped up O'Flaherty from Pittsburgh's camp in the final week of ST. This must be difficult to believe but O'Flaherty has pitched 1/3rd of an inning and already leads the National League in losses (0-2, 27.00). He's given up game-losing hits in both appearances, one that double to Muffy; and yesterday surrendered a home run to the first and only batter he faced, breaking a 4-4 tie (the dangerous Almedys Diaz of St. Louis).

Edgy MD Apr 09 2016 10:28 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Even more difficult to believe is that Álex Torres (whose season was characterized by pitching into and out of trouble) couldn't make this Braves club, but they had room for O'Flaherty (who knew nothing of the "out of" part of the equation) could. I guess his history with the Braves and with McDowell works in his favor.

Edgy MD Apr 13 2016 07:56 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Hector Olivera arrested for beating up a woman. Placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an MLB investigation.

Frayed Knot Apr 22 2016 01:04 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

[u:2rf3oyvi]KTE for series April 22-24[/u:2rf3oyvi] Mets hit Atlanta for the first time in this city's final season of ML baseball to find our hosts 4-11 overall, 7.0 games out of 1st, 1.5 out of 4th. Losing your first 9 games out of the blocks will tend to do bad things to your early season although they followed that up with a three-game sweep of Miami, then hung tough hung tough this week during a 3-game series with the Dodgers, bracketing a comfortable 8-1 win between two extra-inning losses. As noted above, this is a team in transition to the point where a bunch of transitioning has gone on even since ST. - Projected starting CF Ender Inciarte hit the DL after just 8 ABs One would think that this would be good news for projected backup CF Michael Bourn but he was released while still being owed $14 million (much of it paid by Cleveland) on the deal the Mets just “had to make” 3+ years ago. So the current CF is call-up Mallex Smith. The former 5th round pick by SD who came over in the Justin Upton deal, is fast as hell and had decent numbers in the minors but, so far, isn’t ‘cutting it’ on the ML level unless you count the cut that caused him to leave his ML debut after 5 innings when running into his own helmet earned him 5 stitches in his face as the welcome to the big leagues door prize. [fimg=250:2rf3oyvi]http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/RSN/South/2016/04/11/PI-MLB-Atlanta-Braves-Mallex-Smith-041116.vadapt.664.high.92.jpg[/fimg:2rf3oyvi] - LF Hector Olivera is on “administrative leave” whilst MLB investigates a women’s complaint of assault against him which occurred during their series in Washington. - ex-NYM Jeff Francouer made the club off a spring invite. So far his year has been very Francour-ian in that he’s hitting .200 and the one time I saw him this year he was throwing a guy out at the plate. - All-purpose IF Gordon Beckham is on the DL I said in the intro here that I thought this team could score some runs if things broke well for them (like both Cuban imports hitting). But now with half the Cuban connection missing plus all the other parts listed above, Freddie Freeman also isn’t hitting, AJ Pierzynski isn’t hitting, 2B Jace Peterson isn’t hitting, SS Erick Aybar is REALLY not hitting, and Kelly Johnson isn’t hitting. RF Nick Markakis IS hitting, but he and backup catcher Tyler Flowers are about the only ones so, no, they’re not scoring many runs a'tall. They’re above only Philly in R/G (although they’re miles ahead of Philly). But at least their pitching makes up for it … except it hasn’t. Now granted they had two of their first three series vs the Washington Harper-Murphys (and got their asses kicked) and yesterday Matt Wisler pitched Kershaw to a draw for 7 innings, but pitching overall is 5th from the bottom in runs allowed/game at exactly 5/per and at the moment they don’t seem to know who’s going to start on Sunday. Friday - 7:35 Harvey vs Bud Norris [1-2; 6.23; 1.67 WHiP in 3 starts] Norris lost twice to the Nats, then beat the Marlins. Saturday - 7:10 Matz vs Joulys Chacin [0-0; 2.38; 0.79] The ex-Rockie/DBack shut out the Nats over 6 innings (Braves lost anyway) then gave up 3 over 5.1 vs the Marlins in his 2 starts this year. Sunday - 1:35 deGrom vs TBA Teheran pitched Wednesday, Matt Wisler on Thursday, and Williams Perez is back in the minors so we could see a ML debut here. We have a mixed record compiled over the years vs TBA. In the pen they’ve already used 11 different guys with Jason Grilli closing seeming to be the only sure role. Funny-pitching John Gant (see link up the thread here) is back in the minors while brief-NYM Eric O’Flaherty is lighting more fires in Georgia these days -- 4 BBs + 4 hits including 2 HRs in 2 innings pitched over 8 appearances -- than anyone since Sherman. (that's right, I stooped to the Sherman burning Atlanta analogy).

Edgy MD Apr 22 2016 01:15 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot wrote: - ex-NYM Jeff Francouer made the club off a spring invite. So far his year has been very Francour-ian in that he’s hitting .200 and the one time I saw him this year he was throwing a guy out at the plate. Jeff Francoeur has the faith of Fredi Gonzalez.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 22 2016 02:50 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Yo, Brah, I joined the Yankees again! Yeah dude! Still in Scranton, but it's all good!

TransMonk Apr 22 2016 03:30 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Even though the Braves are finishing out this season at Turner Field before moving to new digs, the grounds crew may already be looking to next season: Braves may complain to union about condition of Turner Field infield Heads up Lucas, Neil, Asdrubal and David!

Frayed Knot Apr 24 2016 10:59 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

The Braves biggest problem this season seems to be evident, at least if we're to take this series as a blueprint for their offense. They banged out a more than respectable 32 hits over the three games but totaled only 34 total bases in the process: 32 singles + 2 doubles

Frayed Knot Apr 28 2016 01:47 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

The Braves (specifically Freddie Freeman) hit a HR last night. The solo shot in the 8th inning of a game where they were already down 8-2 was their first in 15 games. The loss dropped them to 4-17. It was the 2nd of the year for FFF who now has half of the team's season total.

TransMonk Apr 28 2016 02:05 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot wrote: It was the 2nd of the year for FFF who now has half of the team's season total. The first for Freeman since Opening Day, IIRC.

Frayed Knot Apr 28 2016 02:27 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

It's only the second for the entire team since opening day. 2 HRs on OD (Freeman & Garcia), 1 in game 5 (Stubbs), and then Freeman's last night.

Edgy MD Apr 28 2016 03:02 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Relegate the Braves!

Frayed Knot Apr 28 2016 03:15 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I know it famously happened during Ruth's era, where he out-HR'd entire teams for the season. But I wonder when that last happened? I remember the '86 Cards not reaching Maris's 61 mark in round-trippers but of course those didn't come in the same season. Still way too early to put on death watch on this one, but the Braves as a team are currently tied at 4 with 12 different NL players, are trailing 19 others, and are being doubled or more by five of those 19: Rizzo at 8. Harper, Walker, Arenado, & Story at 9 each

Benjamin Grimm Apr 28 2016 03:24 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I'm hoping they lose 121 games.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 28 2016 08:13 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Amazin' article on the systemic analraping of taxpayers by the Braves, and the fatcats baldfaced denials of such. http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016- ... s-stadium/

Frayed Knot Apr 28 2016 08:42 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

As Andrew Zimbalist -- an economist who has written extensively about this subject -- has often said, 'if funding stadium construction was profitable then these team owners would be tripping over each other in order to build them themselves'. And, yet, they never do.

Frayed Knot May 02 2016 03:02 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

KTE May 2, 3, 4 Since we’ve last seen [crossout]Aston Villa[/crossout] Atlanta … … the Braves (6-18) were busy going 2-4 on the ‘Theo Epstein tour’, first losing 3 of 4 in their inter-league home-and-home “rivalry” series to the Red Sox, then splitting 2 in a rain-shortened series in Wrigley. They tried real hard to lose Sunday’s game there — blowing a late 3-0 lead including the 9th inning tying run on a botched pick-off attempt — but then won it in the 10th so they’re apparently not even very good at being really bad these days. - FFF now has a full 60% of Braves HRs this year (3 of their 5) Question of the day: If Freeman takes a trip to Paris, does he feel unfettered and alive? - they can’t seem to decide on a 2nd baseman (except to decide that they all suck) They’ve already used 5 different starters there with none of them starting more than 8 times over 24 games - at SS they’re trying various combos as well because their “bridge” starter there, Erick Aybar, is OBP’ing at an under .200 clip, something even the most virulent anti-analytics dudes (oh Hi Mike Francesa) know suxx. - in CF, Mallex Smith is losing PT to Drew Stubbs cuz I guess they figure that if they’re going to have someone out there K’ing in 1/3 of his ABs, they might as well do so with a guy who at least brings the threat of some power - they tried to bolster things by calling up former Marlin Emilio Bonafacio until, after announcing his promotion, the transaction was squashed by MLB on account of it not being 30 days yet since they did the cut-and-resign thing with him in Spring. So they have to wait another week on that so we won’t see him in this series. - they’re basically calling up and/or returning a reliever to/from the minors about once a day lately (and I mean that literally: 11 separate transactions since 4/20) so don’t ask me who’s in the bullpen because the answer will probably change before I finish typing this sentence. And, really, do the specifics matter? - as of earlier today, all three pitchers for this series were listed as TBA. That could mean they just haven’t decided on the order yet or maybe it’s that they’re still looking for three guys. Perhaps they’re running a lottery and one or more lucky fans will get the assignment. - Finally, though, as of late Sunday they had filled in their pitching starters for the series: Monday - 7:10 Colon vs Mike Foltynewicz This will be his 2016 debut although we did see him last year and basically kicked his butt (6 runs / 9 hits / 4 innings) Tuesday - 7:10 Harvey vs Matt Wisler Wisler won his ML debut vs the Mets last June (1 run / 8 IP) but is 0-2, 4.26 ERA this season in 4 2016 starts Wednesday - 1:10 Matz vs Jhoulys Chacin Former Rockie/DBack, Chacin was released and/or not signed by three different clubs in 2015, so naturally he hit right in with the Braves rotation. 1-1, 3.27 in 4 starts this year. Other than those minor problems listed above, things are going really well for them.

Zvon May 02 2016 03:11 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

^Awesome,thank you. Freeman's still in a funk, isn't he? This series I wanna see Funkin' Frdy Frmn.

Frayed Knot May 02 2016 03:23 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Zvon wrote: Freeman's still in a funk, isn't he? This series I wanna see Funkin' Frdy Frmn. He actually seems to be coming out of his early season funk. 10 for his last 30 with 2 HRs

Frayed Knot May 03 2016 12:41 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Eight more Braves transactions today: 4 called up [Reid Brigand, Chase d'Arnaud, Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Tuiasosopo], 3 sent down [pitchers Chris Wisler & John Gant, plus 2B Jace Peterson] and they designated Drew Stubbs for assignment. That's now 20 roster moves for Atlanta in just the last 12 days - and none of them were DL related. Just trying to find a mix that'll work better than the alignment.

Edgy MD May 03 2016 12:47 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I'm crazy about Matt Tuiasosopo. My favorite AAAA player. Hasn't appeared since 2013.

Frayed Knot May 03 2016 12:55 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

He leads the league in syllables.

Benjamin Grimm May 10 2016 03:05 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I see that the Braves are 1 and 15 at home so far this year!

Mets Willets Point May 10 2016 03:06 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I see that the Braves are 1 and 15 at home so far this year! There's no place like Cobb County.

Ceetar May 10 2016 03:12 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I see that the Braves are 1 and 15 at home so far this year! they're something like 6th in Wins at Turner Field this season.

Frayed Knot May 11 2016 01:31 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I see that the Braves are 1 and 15 at home so far this year! they're something like 6th in Wins at Turner Field this season. a 3-way tie for 7th to be precise. In fact the only clubs who don't have as many or more wins this season at Turner than the Braves are: 1) the Marlins - they got swept by the Braves in a 3-game set 2) teams that haven't played there yet Other Braves oddities about their 7 wins so far this season: - 4 of them came consecutively so they have both a 9-game and an 8-game losing streak already this season, and are currently in the midst of on a 5-game winless stretch - 4 of those wins came against teams currently on top in their division: Mets, Cubs, BoSox, Dodgers.

Frayed Knot May 12 2016 04:26 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Looks like we won't have Jhoulys Chacin to kick around anymore. The Mets have thumped him twice already this year (8-2 and 8-0) but the Braves dealt him to Anaheim today for a minor league hurler. And the Braves won today!! Beat the Phils for their 2nd home win.

Frayed Knot May 17 2016 04:07 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 17 2016 04:33 PM

Bye bye Fredi. Gonzalez fired. Tough to claim that it's his fault that they're 9-28 but guys with that kind of record usually doesn't hang onto jobs very long. 60 y/o AAA mgr Brian Snitker takes over. Snitker played parts of 4 seasons in the Atlanta system from 1977-80 and started managing for that org in 1982

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 17 2016 04:11 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Snitker really satisfies.

Edgy MD May 17 2016 04:51 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

I had fully expected the Braves to suspend their campaign and throw their weight behind one of the frontrunners any day now. What a betrayal this all has been.

G-Fafif May 17 2016 08:24 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Fredi Gonzalez was a terrible manager for the Marlins and they got rid of him pronto. He was a terrible manager for the Braves and they clung to him for more than five seasons. Gotta give this round to the Marlins.

Edgy MD May 17 2016 11:52 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Gonzalez found out by getting an e-mail from the team's travel agency?! And Willie Randolph was mistreated?

Frayed Knot May 18 2016 12:29 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Edgy MD wrote: Gonzalez found out by getting an e-mail from the team's travel agency?! Yeah, apparently the auto-email confirming the rearrangement of his travel plans back to Atlanta while in the middle of a road swing in Pittsburgh reached his phone before the team reached him. Meanwhile, new guy ain't doing any better. [crossout]8-0[/crossout] 9-3 in the 4th in favor of Pitt

Frayed Knot May 18 2016 01:08 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Nice headline in Baseball Prospectus: Fredi ... Blamed ... Fired. The Braves, btw, almost came back last night. In a game where they were trailing 7-0 at the end of the 1st and 9-zip after 2 (welcome to the big leagues Brian Snitker!!) they wound up losing 12-9 with the tying run on-deck in the 9th. But that's how it seems to go for losing teams; in a season where your offense is averaging barely 3 runs/game and has only 4 times scored more than 5, the day you put up a season's best 9 runs turns out to be the same one where you go out and surrender a season high of 12.

Edgy MD May 18 2016 01:23 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Are they doing a manager search or do they intend to ride out the season with the interim? I imagine they hope to open the new ballpark with one of their nineties heroes installed as the manager — if not Chipper Jones, then Mark Lemke or Javy Lopez or Bret Boone or somebody. Maybe they bring Walt Weiss over from the Rockies or something.

Benjamin Grimm May 18 2016 01:58 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Fredi ... Blamed ... Fired When I saw that my first instinct was to see if that was a palindrome. (Of course, it's not.) This, by the way, also is not a palindrome: "Fredi was I ere I was fired." This is a palindrome, but it suffers from not making any sense: "Derif saw I ere I was fired."

Edgy MD May 18 2016 02:01 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Is FREDI GOT FINGERED too obvious?

Lefty Specialist May 18 2016 02:49 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Frayed Knot May 18 2016 03:37 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Poor Fredi. Everybody misused him, ripped him off an abused him.

Frayed Knot May 20 2016 03:56 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

OK, here's one you don't hear everyday: Atlanta SS Erick Aybar was in the original starting lineup Thursday night but was scratched prior to the start of the game when he needed to go to the hospital to have a chicken bone removed from his throat.

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2016 01:15 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 17 2016 01:31 PM

So what's new with the Braves? Not much, they still suck (20-46). May wasn't as bad as April but that's not saying much and June (5-10) is off to a worse start than May as they come off a hard-fought 4-game split with Cincy in a series that must have been attended by dozens. At least when the Cubs were in town some Cubs fans probably bought tickets. C - Tyler Flowers and AJ Pierzynski are splitting the time. That Flowers can't outright steal the job from the 39 y/o, 457 OPS'ing AJ says something though I'm not sure what. 1B - Freddie is hitting better than back when we last saw him but still not vintage Freddie over the season 2B - Jace Peterson was recalled from exile following the trade of Kelly Johnson (remind me where he went again?) SS - Erick Aybar still under .200 as he has been all year, so Chase d'Arnaud is getting semi-regular work for the first time in his career and is doing OK for himself [.302/.362/.396] 3B - Adonis Garcia was demoted for a time but he's back and as mediocre as ever LF - Francouer and Mallex Smith are pretty much splitting time out in left, which makes for lots of athleticism just not a lot of baseball skill. CF - Ender Inciarte, though a good CF, makes his contribution to the sub-.300 OBA theme RF - Nick Markakis plays near everyday while he looks for HR #2 on the season and wonders where he'll be dealt next month Friday 7:10 -- John Gant vs Matt Harvey Gant was part of the price paid for Kelly J and Juan U last year. The former 21st round draft pick of the Mets has been up and down w/Atlanta this year. This will be Gant's 9th ML game overall and 2nd start [0-1; 5.63; 1.75] Saturday 8:15 PM (thanx FOX) -- Aaron Blair vs Steven Matz This will be the second Mets appearance against the Blair Pitch Project. Met bats got to him for 3 runs on 6 hits over 5.1 innings back in Blair's ML debut April 24 in an eventual 3-2 NYM win. Since then he's 0-3 in 8 starts while rarely lasting past the 4th inning. Sunday 1:10 -- Julio Teheran vs Jacob deGrom Teheran is a weak 2-7 but with a sub-3.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHiP so it's hardly his fault. We managed to miss him in both of the earlier series so this will be our first meeting in nearly a full year (Jun 21, 2015) certainly an oddity to go so long without seeing an in-division ace.

MFS62 Jun 17 2016 01:27 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Baseball fans and teammates (and maybe even family) alike are pretty sure the player's full name is "That asshole AJ Pierzynski". He has had some interesting on-field and clubhouse battles over the years. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 17 2016 01:43 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 17 2016 02:47 PM

I kinda like the guy. Never been a great player (2 AS games, 1 Silver Slugger, was 30th in MVP one year) but has lasted 19 seasons / 2,000+ games / 7,700 PAs strictly as a catcher (plus 32 games as DH) and he's a tough old bird (will turn 40 in December) who's still at it. Most of his rep seems to stem from the one time he slugged a guy at home plate in a tussle during a ChiSox/Cubs series (like that even qualifies as violence in Chicago these days) which led to all kinds of stuff, maybe none of it as good as the promotion the White Sox put on the following week when Pierzynski was one of the 'final picks' for the AS Game and the team encouraged the fans to "Step Up and Punch AJ" so he could win the vote for the game's final slot. That's probably not the only time he's been an irritant but it's never come against the Mets (except for hitting where he's .338 in 80 ABs) nor has it even been something blatantly out of line that I've personally witnessed. Besides, he's the second best Polish player ever to come out of the east end of Long Island (even though raised in Florida).

TransMonk Jun 17 2016 02:31 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

Flowers was the backup to Pierzynski when AJ was with the White Sox, too. Freeman was 10/18 with a 2 doubles, a triple, 3 homers and 6 RBI in the just finished 4 game series with Cincy. It's the smallest of sample sizes, but he is swinging a hot bat right now.

Frayed Knot Jun 23 2016 02:39 AM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

KTE revenge series. Thursday 7:10 -- Matt Harvey vs Matt Wisler [3-7, 4.23] We lost to Wisler back on May 3rd on a combined 1-hit shutout. Friday 7:35 -- Steven Matz vs Aaron Blair [0-4, 7.19] We nicked Blair for 3 runs in 5 innings in the middle game of the sweep disaster last week when Matz, Henderson & Reed blew the 3-run lead when they combined to give up solo runs in four consecutive innings Saturday 7:15 -- deGrom vs Julio Teheran [3-7, 2.66] Was last seen twirling the one-hitter on Sunday Sunday 1:35 -- Bartolo Colon vs Bud Norris [2-7, 4.69] We bopped Norris around in an early season start, but then basically couldn't touch him during two different 2-inning relief appearances. Braves lost Wednesday afternoon to Miami which busted up their six game winning streak which included games started by Harvey, Matz, deGrom, and Jose Fernandez Remember when we hit OF Mallex Smith with a pitch last week? Well his thumb turned out to be broken so he won't be around in this series.

Frayed Knot Sep 09 2016 02:22 PM Re: Division Opponents for 2016: Atlanta Braves

We haven't seen these guys since losing 5 of 7 to them in mid-late July and while they're not a good team now they're more or less .500 since then going 17-18 since August 1st so it's not a weekend to be taken lightly especially as we're starting three pitchers most Met fans had either never heard of as the season started or hoped would be relegated to the bullpen by now. What's New? - mainly that Dansby Swanson has been installed as the everyday SS, replacing Erick Aybar who was dealt to Detroit This former overall #1 draft pick out of Vanderbilt, traded to the Braves by the DBacks last year, made his ML debut on Aug 17 and is hitting .270 with 2 HRs since. That he's a Georgia native (growing up right near where their new stadium is going to be) means that the team is going to attempt to build the future and a lot of their marketing around his talent and looks so long as he doesn't fall on his face. - also Matt Kemp is now the everyday LF as Jeff Francouer has moved on to the Miami phase of his round the NL East tour. Kemp is a bunch of years removed from the .300-hitting Gold Glove OF he once was but does have 28 HRs to his credit this year and is still just 31 y/o. His $21+mil/yr contract still has three seasons to go after this year so we're going to get used to seeing him out there, although the payments for the remainder of that 8-year deal signed back in 2012 are going to be split between the Braves, Padres, and Dodgers. - AJ Pierzynski is just recently off the DL but no longer starting games at catcher. Tyler Flowers backed by Anthony Recker (speaking of dreamboats) is their main backstop right now. Friday, 7:35 -- Robert Gsellman vs Julio Teheran Teheran is only 5-9 but with a 3.01 ERA and 1.03 WHIP Saturday, 7:10 -- Seth Lugo vs John Gant In a game so obviously going for the shortest starting pitcher's names award, Gant is a RH rookie with the funky motion that we faced, and lost to, during the sweep debacle in July. To date it's his only big league win: 1-3; 4.70 in 14 ML games/5 starts Sunday, 1:35 -- Bartolo Colon vs Williams Perez [2-2, 5.47, 1.31 in 10 ML starts] This will be Perez's 2nd start since going on the DL in early June. He got crunched by the Nats in start #1 on Tuesday.