8/23 News, Links, Discussion: Braves-Giants, Outfield Leaders, Bourn & Prado Features
August 23, 2012 at 10:27 am by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
Braves lineup: Michael Bourn (CF), Reed Johnson (RF), Martin Prado (LF), Chipper Jones (3B), Freddie Freeman (1B), Dan Uggla (2B), Brian McCann (C), Paul Janish (SS), Tommy Hanson (P).
Giants lineup: Angel Pagan (S, CF), Marco Scutaro (R, 2B), Pablo Sandoval (S, 3B), Hunter Pence (R, RF), Brandon Belt (L, 1B), Hector Sanchez (S, C), Gregor Blanco (L, LF), Brandon Crawford (L, SS), Barry Zito (L, P).
Game Notes
Jason Heyward is getting the day off with Reed Johnson taking his spot in right field and taking advantage of the left-handed Zito starting.
Brian McCann is back in the lineup after sitting for the third time in six days last night.
Buster Posey is out nursing a tight hamstring that he felt during pre-game stretches yesterday.
Game 1 vs. Giants
After a disappointing first two games to the series, the Braves managed to avoid a sweep with a 5-1 win over the Nationals in the series finale Wednesday. Kris Medlen pushed his scoreless streak to 21 innings with seven shutout innings, and Martin Prado doubled twice to lead Atlanta.
The Braves immediately hopped on a plane for San Francisco to begin a four-game series with the Giants starting tonight. The Giants currently lead the Dodgers in the NL West by 2.5 games after sweeping Los Angeles in their most recent series. Pitching remains the strength of the Giants, as they are currently eighth in MLB in ERA at 3.65 (Braves are sixth at 3.62) and fifth in FIP at 3.74 (Braves are 15th at 3.92).
The loss of Melky Cabrera was a big blow for the offense, but with bounceback seasons from Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval, the Giants offense has done enough to support the pitching staff, and over a month’s stretch, the difference in results shouldn’t be that great.
The Braves will see Barry Zito in the series opener. Zito is puttering along at a 4.42 ERA and 5.19 xFIP, the latter leading all of baseball, and not in the good way. His 13.2% strikeout rate is the lowest of his career, and with a 9.7% walk rate and 40% ground ball rate, there’s just really nothing to like.
Tommy Hanson will go for the Braves coming off a solid three runs allowed over 6.2 innings against the Dodgers. He walked two and struck out five, not allowing a run until the sixth.
Game time is 10:15. Atlanta: SportSouth. San Francisco: CSN-BA.
MLB.com preview
STATS preview
Outfield Leaderboard by fWAR
Cardinals – 15.7
Braves – 14.7
Angels – 14.2
Brewers – 12.4
Rangers – 11.5
Mike Trout – 7.5
Andrew McCutchen – 6.3
Ryan Braun – 6.3
Michael Bourn – 5.9
Jason Heyward – 5.8
More Links
Braves.com recap for Wednesday’s win.
AJC quotes following Wednesday’s win. Chipper Jones on Kris Medlen: “He’s poised beyond his years. He’s one of those guys that is pretty quiet, but he always walks around like maybe he knows something you don’t. He’s got Doggie’s kind of presence out there on the mound. He’s not a big guy but he walks out there like ‘I know I can get you out.’ And he’s got a few different ways to do it.”
Matthew Leach of MLB.com writes a feature on Martin Prado’s value to the Braves.
Terence Moore of MLB.com writes a feature on Michael Bourn’s defense.
The Nationals gave Chipper a touching send-off in his final regular-season game in Washington.
Around the NL East
The latest on the Stephen Strasburg situation says Davey Johnson figures two or three more starts for Strasburg, which is something I thought was already figured.
Jacob Turner pitched well in his Marlins debut, and Ozzie Guillen acknowledged Turner will remain in Miami in some form for the rest of the season.
The Marlins placed Emilio Bonifacio on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee, the third trip to the DL for him this season.
Collin McHugh will make his major league debut today for the Mets. McHugh is a product of Berry College in Rome, the first Berry player to make the majors.
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If the Braves roll out a starting rotation of Hudson, Maholm, Beachy, Minor, and Medlen at some point next year, would it be the most underrated/overachieving rotation of all time?
Definitely under the radar if you just go off the last 4 names.
I’m really curious to see how the rotation rounds out next season. Hudson will still demand a pretty decent contract, or if we decide to move Hanson and strengthen the farm. We could of course keep Tommy who is cheaper than Timmy, and use that money on CF. Once again we have a ridiculous amount of options.
That said, the “problem” has been complicated by Medlen. I’ve been an advocate for moving him into the rotation, but he has performed at a ridiculous level. If he can keep this up even close to his current success, we will have a seriously brutal 1-2 punch with Beachy and Medlen at the top of the rotation. It’s still bizarre to think of Kris as our #1 starter right now.
Not sure the Braves would get much for Hanson right now, given his injury problems. Plus, he’s probably going to need surgery for his shoulder at some point.
Hudson has another $9M option for next season that I assume the Braves will pick up. That’s well below market prices for a #2/3 starter.
Hudson has an $8 million option for next year. No contract needed.
That’s what I meant, his option. If we have Hudson, Maholm, Minor, Hanson, Medlen, Beachy (around mid season), Delgado, Teheran (still not ready), Gilmartin. That’s 6 starters total when Beachy returns not counting the Gwinnett boys.
I think Hanson will still fetch a good return as quality starting pitching is still hard to come by and he’s team controlled until 2016. Of all the complaints that have been directed at him recently, he’s still a very good pitcher. Team GMs will look and see he has respectable K/9, BB/9, and his high ERA can be attributed to a .305 BABIP. And luckily there are still GMs that will think “oohhhh this guy has won over 10 games in EVERY season!” They love it. I think we need to restock the system which strong position player prospects, of which the farm is almost completely bereft. Where Braves followers see Tommy as a failed staff ace–whose mantle has passed on to Beachy/Medlen–every other team in baseball would love to have him on their staff, and hope to minimize the injuries.
@Viva
I’m just holding out hope that we try and move Tommy in the off-season. If he pitches well the rest of the way, he could probably net us a decent return.
When would Beachy be ready next year?
Beachy will not be back until mid season (best case senario). I think the Braves are most likely going to keep both to start the season and re-evaluate midseason or before the trade deadline.
No Beachy until All-Star break, and in all likelihood he won’t be himself again until the 2014 season. For sure in the rotation: Maholm, Minor and Medlen. Likely Hudson. I’d shop Hanson around and see if we can get something decent in return so we don’t end up with a Jurrjens situation part II. You can go with Delgado as the #5 till Beachy returns. Teheran and Gilmartin will be your spot starters in AAA (and to be honest Teheran is a complete unknown right now).
No offense, but did you guys read what I wrote? First paragraph: “Beachy (around mid season).” I’m well aware of that since I typed it.
Viva… I think he was responding to Chris on that one, since he specifically asked about Beachy
I know this might be blasphemy, but i can’t say I wouldn’t shopping Hanson+Teheran and see if we can get the Outfield bat we want and a decent relief pitcher.
Michael, I’d like to see us go after a leadoff hitting CF if we can’t get Bourn to come back. Twins need pitching and some type of deal sending Hanson for Denard Span could happen. Doesn’t have the speed of Bourn, but a career. .359 OBP and hits lefties just as well as he does righties. He’s got $11M over the next 2 years and a $9M option for 2015. Heck I’d try to get Willingham as well depending on how much they’re asking for.
@Brian
Yeah I can’t argue against that logic whatsoever. The basic premise is, if we don’t re-sign Bourn and don’t get another CF’er, we’re basically creating more need by having to moved Heyward to CF. I know a lot of people are down on Bourn because of his age, but if the contract is right, I’d rather re-sign him than anyone else. But, if the numbers get too high, then I would opt for a different CF’er and LF’er.
ah ok. my mistake.
I’m still high on Delgado. If he gets another shot next year, I think he will perform better, as he has had the growing pains season already this year.
I everyone forgetting Sheets, or they just don’t want him back? We should at least try to keep him around for another year.
I’m still really high on Delgado; I’m still really high on Teheran. They’re both REALLY young. I think Sheets has been an amazing comeback story this year but I just don’t think there’s room for him unless he wants to pitch setup.
Beachy is our ace. Next year’s rotation in order would look like this: Beachy, Hudson, Maholm, Medlen, and a toss up between Hanson/Minor. Hanson has actually been our weakest pitcher, but has received great run support which inflates his win totals. His stuff just doesn’t look like it used to. I wouldn’t be surprised and wouldn’t mind if he was moved for needed pieces in the offseason.
get ben revere if we can. cheap, hits for avg, steals bases.
Any news on Andrelton and when we can expect him back? Is he even rehabbing yet? Last I saw he was going to be reevaluated.
mid-september.
Just downloaded and played a free baseball game on my new Iphone…beat the Marlins 17-3. The best part. Andrelton Simmons and Beechy were healthy and played great. One can dream. Beechy went 7 strong innings and had pinpoint control. At one point I had 7 straight hits. I think they should put me in charge. He, he, ha, ha.
What game is it?
Amazing how much less I rage when Reed Johnson spells Heyward rather than Matt Diaz.
In around the NL East…
McHugh is also the first from Providence Christian Academy (this year’s Class A State Champion) in Lilburn to make it to the majors. Go Colin, and Go Stars (now Storm)!
Sigh, something is wrong with Hanson, shut him down and get him the surgery he needs, he cannot benefit the team in his current condition.
Didn’t Fredi Gonzo say he was going to take the worst pitcher out of the six man rotation in the next two weeks? Hmm, Hanson???