SB Nation User Blog: yondaime4

Atlanta Braves Winter League Roundup: 10/28

yondaime4 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:06:48 -0000

The Peoria Saguaros started the AFL season off by losing 6 straight games and now they are 6-8 on the season. Not a bad turnaround. Also they have done it without Jason Heyward in the lineup. Coincidence?

Peoria 9, Surprise 0

F. Freeman 3-4 2B, RBI, BB
B. Hicks 2-4 3B, RBI, BB
J. Lyman 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K
L. Hyde 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K
C. Kimbrel 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K

Frederick Freeman's AFL season can be split into two sets of 4 games apiece so far. In the first 4 games he had 15 AB with just 1 hit and 8K. In the last 4 games he has amassed 8 hits in 16 AB (3 XBH) and only 3K. He has brought his OPS up to .841 and he has an OBP of .389. This comes on the same day that Jim Callis mentioned that some scouts weren't impressed with Freeman so far. This kid is still an elite prospect. Brandon Hicks has impressed me so far with 8 BB vs 8K (though 8K is still a lot for 31 AB) and he has continued to hit at a .323 clip. Craig Kimbrel has also been impressive so far, though his walks are still out of line.

Guasave 3, Navojoa 6 - 8th Inning

M. Young 1-3 2B, RBI, BB, CS(3)
R. Gorecki 1-2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, CS(1)

Nothing too exciting going on here. Matt Young keeps taking walks and getting on base. He will never be a star but I think he could give a couple of solid seasons as an ideal backup OF. Does anyone know if Gorecki is actually still with the Braves system or if he is just playing winter ball on his own?

Atlanta Braves Winter League Roundup: 10/27

yondaime4 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:33:33 -0000

Some of our hitters look like they are picking up the pace.

Mesa 5, Peoria 6

F. Freeman 2-4 HR(1), K
B. Hicks 0-1 3BB, K

Freddie Freeman hit his first homer in a couple of months and has been better in his last couple of outings after he apparently knocked the rust off in the first few games. Also of note was that tonight he was batting 3rd which is a couple of spots up from where he has been the past few games. Brandon Hicks is hitting .296 so far and has 7 BB in 34 PA (though 8K also). If he can carry those walks over into the regular season and raise his batting average up to .250 he is going to be useful. Speaking of useful, Lee Hyde pitched a scoreless inning last night.

Gusave 6, Navojoa 7 - 7th Inning

M. Young 0-3 2 BB, K
R. Gorecki 1-3 BB, K, SB(1)
T. Gustafson 5.1IP 6H 6R 5BB 1K

Tim Gustafson finally got knocked around a little in Mexico. He has been progressively worse in each start though this was his only truly bad one. I am bit surprised to see Reid Gorecki in winter ball, but I have always heard that he is a true baseball rat and plays every chance he gets. Matt Young only has 2 hits in his last 5 games and has seen his AVG fall to .250 though his OBP is .365.

Braves Top-5 Minor League Left Fielders

yondaime4 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:40:34 -0000

Cody Johnson led the Braves organization in homeruns in 2009.

View full size photo »

As we have already seen, the depth at most of the infield positions is pretty weak right now (except for maybe 1B) and nearly devoid of potential impact players. The OF is a bit different with 3-4 potential impact players in LF alone and several more between the other OF positions. The LF list is comprised almost exclusively of high risk/high reward tools players and demonstrates the Braves draft philosophy pretty well over the past 2 decades. If just one of these guys hit their ceiling we could have a very good power bat for the future. The problem is, that is a big if in almost all of these cases.

1. Cody Johnson B/T: L/R Born: 8/28/1988 HT: 6'4" WT: 195
Cody Johnson is probably the most.....controversial? interesting? prospect that will be discussed on any of these lists. And for good reason too. He was a controversial pick for the Braves when they spent their 1st round choice on him in the 2006 Draft , but they knew then that he was going to take a while to develop and they were willing to give him time. Cody lives for the home run and may have more raw power than any player in the minors right now. The big issue is that is his only real skill at the moment. He is the consummate boom or bust player.

The player that Cody Johnson is compared to most often is Adam Dunn, but there are some flaws with this comparison. Both guys have extreme power, but Dunn has always had very good patience at the plate with a solid idea of what he is doing. He is the perfect example of a 3-True Outcome player (guys who can be expected to either homer, strike out or walk in any plate appearance) and is a good example of Cody's best case scenario. Cody, while still having that power, has yet to show the same level of polish as Dunn, though there are some good signs. This year at Myrtle Beach Cody posted the highest walk totals of his career thanks to a 13% walk rate for the season, and he actually saw it increase after Freeman and Heyward were promoted and 5% better than he was with Rome. His ISOP was a very good .275 in Myrtle Beach which came from 51 of his 102 hits going for extra bases (32 homers, 18 doubles and 1 triple). He ended the year with an .861 OPS though he slumped quite hard in the final month of the season with a .741 OPS (still not horrible because of his good walks totals).

With Cody Johnson's good points comes some pretty glaring bad points. The K-rate is the first stat that anyone points to, and it really can't be ignored. Cody struck out in roughly 35% of his ABs this season. To put that in perspective Mark Reynolds struck out in about 33% of his ABs in the majors this season but he never posted higher than 28% in a full season in the minors and Adam Dunn never posted higher than 24% in the minors and Ryan Howard did put up 34%, but that was at AA and he was 24 years old. Johnson's strikeouts are a problem and won't ever go away and I think they do point to a root problem which is: 70% of his hits go to RF. He is a dead pull hitter which probably creates some exploitable holes in his swing. Cody also is known to be a pretty bad fielder in LF and the stats back this up as he has a career .940 fielding %. Yes he makes an error on SIX PERCENT of the balls he makes plays on. In the OF. Horrible.

Long story short, Cody has one outstanding skill (power) that has improved as he has moved up the ladder and one solid skill (taking walks) that is certainly a work in progress but still an asset to his offensive game. Outside of those two you would be hard pressed to find . But in the end, with just those two skills he posted an excellent OPS while playing half his games in a pitchers park (.790 OPS at home vs 929 on the road) and had what I would consider a very productive season. Cody does have one other thing going for him: he is only going to be 21 next season and he will probably be in AA. I don't think he is going to set the world on fire in first taste of AA, but he could spend three years there and only be 24. Cody has already drawn praise from scouts for making more adjustments than most thought he was capable of. He has come a long way from the kid who posted a .541 OPS in the GCL. If he can continue to make progress being a more selective hitter, even if the strike outs stay exceptionally high, he will be a useful bat in some capacity. Expect to see him in Mississippi next season after finishing 2009 there.

2. Adam Milligan B/T: L/R Born: 03/14/1988 HT: 6'3" WT: 210
The Legend of Adam Milligan got off to a good start this season as he had and excellent debut in the system between 3 levels of ball (Danville, Rome and a short stint with Myrtle Beach). I only say he has a legend because of how many times I heard or read about him being drafted by the Braves 3 times. Obviously he is a guy the Braves wanted and finally got and he showed a bit of why this season.

Alan Matthews for Baseball America said that Milligan was "built like a Greek god" after the Braves took him the second time in 2007. He shows great raw power which led to an ISOP of .247 in almost 200 ABs in Rome and posted a .972 OPS. He pretty much raked from the time he started playing this year and didn't stop until his short promotion to the Carolina League (he had 25 PAs). Matt Forman (not me, I'm Matt ForEman) for Baseball America was asked about Milligan by a reader named Gondeee (from Atlanta) in a chat wrap and said that most scouts really like his hit tool, but no one is sure how it will translate as he moves up. I feel like this is true of most prospects but we have only seen one season of Milligan so far.

Adam didn't strike out a ton in his first season (about 20% at Rome which is acceptable) but he also didn't walk much at all (5.7% in Rome). Milligan is considered to be a bit a bit raw at the plate and the walks are a sign of that. If he can develop some ability to take a walk (like most young players) and keep the Ks in line he is going to be a very interesting bat. A good start to next season can put him on a lot of people's prospect radars. Next year could be his coming out party.

3. Willie Cabrera B/T: R/R Born: 08/03/1986 HT: 5'11" WT: 185
Willie Cabrera has long been a favorite player of mine for no real reason that I can ascertain. He was drafted by the Braves in the 14th round of the 2005 draft out of Los Angeles Pierce JC. Cabrera played most of this season as a 22 year old in AA which is right about where you want a solid prospect to be. He played mostly infield in college and high school and actually had a season ending knee injury his Jr. year of high school but came back for his Sr season and helped lead his high school team to the top of Baseball America's post season rankings.

Getting a good read on what Willie can do isn't the easiest task in the world because his seasons are a but if a mixed bag. After posting a .645 OPS between Rome and Myrtle Beach in 2007, Willie had a bit of a breakout season back at Myrtle Beach last year with an .818 OPS along with 16 HR (more than the previous 2 seasons combined). At first glance this season looks like a bit of a regression as he posted just a .735 OPS with 8 HR in Mississippi, but there are a couple of counter points to that. First Mississippi is one of the toughest parks in the minors to hit in and his stats bear this out (784 OPS on the road vs 680 at home). Also, Willie improved significantly as the season wore on as he posted a .960 OPS in August and was over .800 in June and July after struggling to start the season.

Willie doesn't walk a bunch even though he has shown solid improvement since being drafted but he also doesn't strike out a lot. He has a smooth line drive stroke that keeps the bat in the zone for a long time which results in a lot of contact. His speed is not an asset and his defense has gone from pretty bad to OK in the last couple of seasons. Willie has to potential to be a solid 4th outfielder in the majors but to do that he needs to show that the power he flashed in 2008 wasn't a fluke. Otherwise you are looking a slap hitter who doesn't hit for high average, doesn't take walks and can't steal bases.

4. Robert Hefflinger B/T: R/R Born: 01/03/1990 HT: 6'5" WT: 225
Robby Hefflinger is a typical Braves draft pick. He is a young, toolsy Georgia native with lots of projection. Atlanta took him in the 7th round of the 2009 draft out of Georgia Perimeter College and he started his pro career with Danville. At 6'5" and 225 LBs he is one of the most physically imposing figures in the system and shares a few similarities with Adam Milligan. Both guys generate a lot of power with their big frames and both guys have some issues with plate discipline.

Hefflinger's debut in Danville was solid if unspectacular. He started strong out of the shoot hitting 4 HR in his first month with a .939 OPS. He fell back to earth in July and August and finished the year with a .671 OPS. His calling card is of course his power as he hit 11 HR in his season at Perimeter College. Robby was originally a UGA recruit in 2008 but opted for JuCo instead in hopes of improving his draft stock. He pitched and played the OF as well as serving as the team's backup catcher and was actually considered by some teams as a pitcher after he went 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA. Most teams were impressed enough with his bat to give him a shot as an OF and the Braves jumped him straight to Danville, skipping the GCL entirely. Having been a catcher and a pitcher he shows a strong arm from the OF but he is still learning the nuances of the position.

Hefflinger has the same caveats as most young, toolsy prospects. He needs to improve his plate discipline and cut down on his strike outs. Currently he has excellent tools but it is still too early to predict what will happen with him. Look for him to start 2010 with Rome.

5. Layton Hiller B/T: R/R Born: 05/18/1988 HT: 6'3" WT: 220
Layton Hiller is cut from the same mold as Adam Milligan and Robby Hefflinger. He is a big, physical guy with lots of power. He was taken in the 15th round of the 2008 draft out of Blinn JC in Texas. He led the team in AVG, 2B, HR and RBI and posted a .724 SLG in his final season there. Scouts and coaches love his big body and his tape measure shots.

Hiller began 2009 in the GCL as a 21 year old, already a knock against him, and posted nearly an .800 OPS in 197 ABs. This clearly isn't ideal as he is already 2 years older than what Hefflinger played at in Danville. That said, as similar as his tools are to Milligan and Hefflinger, he is much more raw than those two as he walked in only about 3% of his ABs this season. He was a bit better last year in the GCL with closer to 7% walks but that still isn't ideal for 20 year old in the GCL. I get the feeling that Hiller is enamored with hitting home runs and when he is mashing (he did post a .207 ISOP in the GCL which is solid for that league) he forgets about the other aspects of the game.

The prognosis for Hiller is the same as for Hefflinger. Strike out less and walk more, but do it faster because you are older. Layton finished 2009 with a short stint in Rome and with his age he will probably start back there in 2010. He needs to improve vastly and quickly if he wants to become a true prospect. The tools are there but the skills aren't.

Atlanta Braves Winter League Recaps: 10/23

yondaime4 — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:52:02 -0000

Looks like Freeman bounced back a little bit.

Mesa 10, Peoria 11

B. Hicks 2-4 BB, SB(2)
F. Freeman 2-5 2B, 2 RBI, K
L. Hyde 0.2IP 1H 3R 2BB 1K

Brandon Hicks is hitting .318 in the desert so far with pretty good plate discipline so far and without striking out as much as he did in the regular season. Yes it is Arizona, but he probably could use some confidence building. I am glad to see Freeman hit with some authority as well, though I'm not sold that his wrist is back to 100% yet. And Lee Hyde finally got tagged up after he walked a couple of guys and then gave up a 3-run homer. Still no Heyward.

Navojoa 4, Mexicali 6 - 6th Inning

M. Young 0-3 BB, K
C. Rodriguez 1-3 RBI

Nothing much going on yet in this game. Rodriguez did go 4-4 last night with 2 2Bs and Brett Butts picked up his 3rd save for Navojoa. Young also went 0-2 with 2 BBs. Edgar Osuna also made a shot appearance but gave up 2 hits and a walk and didn't record an out before leaving the game.

Atlanta Braves Winter League Recap: 10/21

yondaime4 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:45:44 -0000

Sorry for nothing the last couple of nights. The Mexican league games come really late and there doesn't seem to be enough Braves playing some nights for a full update.

Surprise 10, Peoria 9

F. Freeman 0-5 4K
L. Hyde 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K
C. Kimbrel 2IP 1H 1R 2BB 3K

Freddie Freeman is having a tough time of it in the AFL so far. He has 8K now in 15 AB though he does have 3 BB also. Lee Hyde has still yet to allow a run and has recorded 6 of his 9 outs via strikeout. Craig Kimbrel has been himself so far walking a bunch of guys (5 in 3.2IP) and striking out a bunch of guys (4K in that same span).

Mazatlan 0, Navojoa 5 - 5th Inning

M. Young 2-3 RBI, SB(2)
T. Gustafson 5IP 3H 0R 2BB 3K

This game obviously isn't over, but I wanted to get a shot of it in. Matt Young has been the second best hitter on this team so far and Tim Gustafson has been great as a starter having allowed only one run through 10 innings pitched so far.

Braves Top-5 Minor League Third Basemen

yondaime4 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:35:38 -0000

While the middle INF depth chart for the Braves is filled with mostly non prospects, the corner spots are slightly better stocked. First Base of course has Frederick Freeman and a couple of big power guys behind him. Third Base falls somewhere between the talent of First Base and the middle INF positions. Even if they aren't all 'prospects' in the traditional sense, most of the guys here are interesting players with some value going forward. Two guys tied for the top spot in the combined TC rankings: Donell Linares and Jake Hanson.

1A. Donell Linares B/T: R/R Born: 10/28/1983 HT: 6'0" WT: 199

Donell Linares is one of those guys that isn't a prospect in the traditional sense of the word. He played this season at age 25 at High A Myrtle Beach which made him a full year older than anyone else on the roster and 2-3 years older than many of his teammates. Linares is a Cuban defector whom the Braves signed on June 20, 2008. 2009 was his US debut in professional ball as he just spent a couple of weeks staying sharp in the DSL last summer. With all that being said he put together a solid campaign for the Pelicans and was probably the best hitter down the stretch.

Linares skill set bears some resemblance to fellow countryman Yunel Escobar, but he sports an even lower K rate (14th most difficult to K in the minors this season) and a little bit more current pop. He posted a .772 OPS for the Pelicans, which isn't wowing, but when considered with the fact that this was his first year in the US it has to be considered a success. Another strong indicator for next season is how he improved late in the season. His OPS was 80 pts higher after the All Star break, which was mostly buoyed by a big August where he hit 6 of his 15 homers. Linares is excellent at getting the bat on the ball, which is great, but it also means that he may never walk a ton. His walk rate did improve significantly the last two months of the season but it still was not spectacular. If he can tap into his power for a full season and take a few more free passes he would actually have a bat that could play every day at the major league level.

Linares has little to no speed, going 5/10 in stolen base attempts this season and wasn't anything special in the field either as he committed 22 errors at 3B. He played a few games at 1B and wasn't bad, but without any eyes on data there is no way to make a real judgment on his defensive prowess other than the numbers. He also has very little room for projection being nearly 26 years old. For him to be valuable to the Braves he will need to be ready in the next season or so, but if he maintains his production as he moves up the ladder he could be a serviceable stopgap if Chipper plans to retire suddenly.

1B. Jake Hanson B/T: R/R Born: 11/20/1989 HT: 6'0" WT: 180

If Linares ranks at the top of this list because of his current toolset, Jake Hanson ranks up here because of future projection. Taken in the 14th Rd in the 2008 amateur draft, Hanson won't be 20 years old until November and still has plenty of room for projection in his body. He debuted in the GCL last season and posted .721 OPS (which is about 50 pts better than league average in the GCL). This year Hanson returned to the GCL and had a mini-breakout where he posted an .842 OPS ranking him in the top 10 in the league.

The biggest area that Hanson improved upon was his power production (Which is to be expected of someone who is a teenager!). In 2008 he slugged .345 with an ISOP of .090 which both would have put him around league average. In 2009 he improved that to .450 and .170 respectively (this year's league AVGs were .335 SLG and .097 ISOP). Another skill that Jake is already showing is the ability to take walks. He has walked in a little over 12% of his PAs since being drafted which is superb, especially for someone his age.

Right now Jake's biggest problem is what most young players struggle with: strikeouts. In his pro career he has struck out in about 24% of his PAs. He has time to correct this and with him already showing the ability to take a walk, even if the Ks stay where they are he could still be a valuable offensive player. His defense is rough around the edges since he was a SS in high school and has been making the transition to 3B, but there is no reason to believe he can't stick there long term. He just needs some seasoning. Hanson impressed the Braves in his pre-draft workout last year and is known to be an extremely hard worker. At this point he just needs to let his body mature and adds its natural strength and improve his already solid skill base. Jake Hanson could turn out to be another great find for the Braves scouting department. He has nothing left to prove in the GCL, so expect to see him start next year at Danville in the Appalachian league (unless he really impresses in spring workouts).

3. Jordan Kreke B/T: R/R Born: 03/21/1987 HT: 6'1" WT: 205

Jordan Kreke was taken by the Braves in the 13th round in the 2009 amateur draft. He made his debut in Danville as the everyday third basemen after being a shortstop in college. Kreke comes into the system with as a Louisville Slugger Third Team All American after he posted a .394 AVG for Eastern Illinois this season.

Kreke showed improvement every year in college going from a .567 OPS in limited playing time his freshman year to to being a 3 time player of the week (a record) in the Ohio Valley Conference. He hit for more power his Sr. season with 32 extra base hits (his previous high was 25) and hit 13 homers after only hitting 4 in his first three seasons. Jordan's pro debut wasn't quite as successful as his Sr. season as he posted just a .712 OPS for Danville at 22 years old. His power all but vanished but he did maintain a solid AVG and OBP. He shows a polished college approach that leads to a decent number of walks and low strike out totals.

Kreke needs to rediscover his power in order to become a viable 3B prospect. He also needs to make the most of his opportunities. At present his offense plays more towards the middle of the INF and less on a corner. He has never been much a stolen base threat and his defense is still developing at 3B after switching positions opon being drafted. Look for Kreke to start 2010 in Rome unless he wows the world and gets a bump to Myrtle Beach.

4. Edison Sanchez B/T: R/R Born: 11/01/1990 HT: 6'4" WT: 195

Edison Sanchez had one of the best seasons in the DSL this season posting a .921 OPS as an 18 year old. When looking through his profile there really isn't much to like about him. At 18 he is already an imposing figure on the diamond at 6'4" and stands to fill out his frame as he matures. Atlanta's front office also rewarded his great season by making him the DSL Minor League Player of the Year.

Sanchez flashed solid power in his second season in the DSL as he knocked 4 HR to go along with 4 triples and 7 doubles. His ISOP was a solid .175 (solid for the DSL at least) and he should add more power as he puts on muscle. The most impressive stat concerning this 18 year old is his walk rate. In two seasons in the DSL he has walked right around a 17% clip. That is absolutely phenomenal for any level. His 34/42 K/BB rate bodes well for his future success.

DSL stats are not always the easiest to interpret because it is difficult to gauge the level of competition and field conditions that players are competing in, so any time a guy puts up great stats in a complex league they have to be taken with a tiny grain of salt. That said the stats cannot really be ignored either. On the surface Edison Sanchez appears to be a very solid prospect going forward. The only knock on him long term may be that he outgrows 3B. Granted 3B is a position for big guys, but if he grows much more he could lose the mobility that allows him to stay there. Sanchez could move up to the GCL or Danville next season depending on the depth and his performance in spring training. If he gets off to a hot start there could be a lot of buzz surrounding him.

5. Van Pope B/T: R/R Born: 02/26/1984 HT: 6'0" WT: 200

Ah Van Pope, at one time the heir apparent to Chipper Jones. Alas, no more. Pope peaked in 2006 in Myrtle Beach where he posted a .783 OPS (when Myrtle Beach was still death to hitters) along with 15 homers (about 10 more than he has ever hit at any other level). Since then he has regressed in most facets of his offensive game though his one above average tool, his defense, has remained intact.

At one time Van Pope looked like he was going to develop into a power hitting 3B prospect with gold glove defense and a solid eye at the plate. Now at age 25, his career isn't over, but he is going to have turn things around soon or be passed up by other players, especially the way Frank Wren has been releasing veteran minor leaguers who may still have potential. In the three seasons since he hit 15 HR in Myrtle Beach Pope has hit just 14 total since then seeing his ISOP go from .167 down to .087 this season. He still doesn't strike out a ton, and his walks have actually improved since falling off a cliff after the 2005 season. He did suffer from a horribly low BABIP (.238) even though he had a really high line drive %.

There are still some things here to like about Van Pope. Obviously the Gold Glove caliber defense is worthwhile and could probably get him a roster spot somewhere. Unfortunately he just isn't going to stick anywhere until the bat comes around. There is still a little light at the end of this tunnel, but wherever his power has gone he needs to go find it again. His walk and K rates are solid enough to rate as average. Expect to see Van Pope back in Gwinnett to start the 2010 season and if things don't turn around, don't expect to see him after that.

Braves Winter League Recap: 10/15-10/16

yondaime4 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:13:56 -0000

Sorry last night's didn't get put up, I was out and about, but I'll play catch up tonight.

10/15

Peoria Javelins 17, Peoria Saguaros 9

J. Heyward 1-4 BB
B. Hicks 2-5

The Saguaros appear to be having a tough go of it so far in the AFL. Heyward has a hit in every game so far and Brandon Hicks hasn't been overmatched. Our pitchers pitched well in the game they all appeared in, but none of the other pitchers appear able to get guys out.

Culiacan 2, Navajoa 5 - Game 1 - 7 Innings

M. Young 2-3 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, K
C. Rodriguez 0-3 K
T. Gustafson 5IP 4H 1R 1BB 2K

Matt Young is just going to play his way into the Braves plans I do believe. He has enough skills to really be a help on the big club. He won't ever have much pop, but he has speed and on base ability and good defense in the OF. All of those things can help a team win. Concepcion Rodriguez has been solid so far in Mexico, just not tonight. Tim Gustafson was solid however. Tim put together a solid year between a couple of levels switching between starting and relieving and seems poised to continue that in Mexico.

Culiacan 4, Navojoa 3 - Game 2 - 7 Innings

M. Young 0-3 BB
C. Rodriguez 0-2 2BB, K

Nothing much going on here.

10/16

Peoria Saguaros 3, Peoria Javelins 13

F. Freeman 1-4 BB, 2K
B. Hicks 1-4 K

Really. this Saguaros team has yet to win a game I believe. Freddie Freeman did pick up his first hit of the fall and Brandon Hicks has hit in two straight and has 3K in 3 games.

Atlanta Braves Winter League Recap: 10/14

yondaime4 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:33:14 -0000

Scottsdale 3, Peoria 1 - 10 Innings

J. Heyward 1-4 2B, K
F. Freeman 0-3 BB, K
B. Hicks 0-4 2K
J. Lyman 2IP 3H 1R 1BB 2K
L. Hyde 1IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K
C. Kimbrel 1IP 0H 0R 2BB 0K

Jason Heyward has 3 hits so far with all three of them being doubles. Not a bad start for the top prospect. The rest of our hitters did not fair as well going a combined 0-7. Our pitching has been pretty solid so far in Arizona with only Jeff Lyman allowing an earned run (he did start this game even though he only pitched 2 innings). Craig Kimbrel is still struggling to command the strike zone but he keeps finding ways out of it. I hope this isn't a habit we have to endure in the future.

Culiacan 0, Navojoa 2 - currently in the 8th

M. Young 1-2 BB, SB(1)

This game is running behind my schedule so I probably won't get to finish the stats tonight. Matt Young appears to have picked up right where he left off in the regular season. This is his first hit so far since he started in the Mexican league, though he does have two walks. He could be a surprise contributor in the majors next season.

Winter League Round-Up: Arizona Fall League Opener!

yondaime4 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:56:28 -0000

Tonight was the first night of the Arizona Fall League and a couple of Braves top prospects were on display. I will be doing these every night and doing my best to recap the other leagues that have Braves players as well (Mexican, Venezuelan etc.). But not all of these leagues post their scores at a reasonable time (AFL is 2-3 hours behind me right now, so don't go ballistic if I miss something. That said, the team with most of the Braves players in the Mexican League, Navojoa, had their game postponed due to wet grounds.

Arizona

Peoria (Us) 4, Scottsdale 8

J. Heyward 2-4 2 2B, RBI, SB(1)
M. Minor 2IP 1H 1R 2BB 0K

Jason Heyward came into Arizona and picked up right where he left off during the regular season. Keep in mind also that for his career, Jason Heyward is 26/31 in stolen bases. That is a little better than 83% which is well about the 'safe zone' of 70%. His speed is an asset too! Mike Minor started this game as well and he didn't appear to be as sharp as his stint in Rome, but his defense wasn't helping him and the run he allowed was unearned. That is all the Braves that got into this game though Craig Kimbrel, Lee Hyde, Jeff Lyman, Freddie Freeman and Brandon Hicks are all on the team. Don't forget to check in every night to see how our boys are doing!

Off Season Schedule at Talking Chop: October 12-18

yondaime4 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:17:22 -0000

We here at Talking Chop aren't going to let you lose the Braves fever just because their season is over. We have another week of coverage planned with more position reviews and prospect rundowns to go along with the positional round tables.

This week we will be looking at the middle INF positions.

Monday: First Basemen Round Table Post
Tuesday: Season in Review: 2B Martin Prado
Wednesday: Top-5 Minor League Second Basemen
Thursday: Second Basemen Round Table Post
Friday: Season in Review: SS Yunel Escobar
Saturday: Top-5 Minor League Shortstops
Sunday: Shortstop Round Table Post