Get Ready for Charlie Morton

by gondeee on Jun 10, 2008 11:31 PM EDT in Minor League News

Mike Hampton is out. John Smoltz is out. Chuck James is unaware there is a strike zone, Jorge Campillo has blister problems, and now Tom Glavine has strained his left elbow. Injuries seem to be the only thing the Braves can do with regularity these days.

With Glavine likely out and Campillo questionable for his start this Saturday, the Braves must turn to another pitcher to fill the starting gap and get some innings. Enter Charlie Morton. Though Morton suffered only his second loss of the season Sunday in 100 degree heat in Virginia, the up-and-coming right-hander seems more than ready for the big leagues.

In 13 games this year, Morton has a 2.05 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 79 innings pitched. Perhaps his most impressive stat is in the homerun column, where he hasn't surrendered a single long-ball all season. Before his loss Sunday, Morton had thrown a one-hit gem against Durham his previous start, striking out 13.

Morton is scheduled to start on Saturday for the Richmond Braves, but today's game notes strangely have Saturday's starting pitcher listed as "Charlie Morton/TBA." Perhaps that's a big giveaway into what the Braves may already have had planned for Morton.

In addition to needing a starting pitcher for Campillo and/or Glavine, the Braves may need to replace the seemingly over matched Manny Acosta in the bullpen. Since the end of May, Acosta's ERA has ballooned from 2.54 on May 30th to its current 4.41.

There aren't many options in the minors to replace him with, but if the team decides to activate Mike Gonzalez, then Acosta, and not Stockman, could be the odd man out of the bullpen.

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Someone needs to light a fire under this team’s ass. If it has to be a kid, so be it.

Welcome, Charlie Morton.

- Oh, Bobby. -

by sdp on Jun 11, 2008 12:18 AM EDT 0 recs

God I hope this happens

I love Charlie Morton and I think we desperately need to inject some youth into this team.

by Prelude rL on Jun 11, 2008 1:58 AM EDT 0 recs

Can't wait

I’ve met and talked with a thousandor more Braves minor leaguers over the last decade and Charlie ranks right up at the very top as my favorite. Seeing where he’s been in his career, both mentally and stats-wise, to now having the possibility that he’s gonna be a major leaguer is a credit to how great Charlie really is. I love this kid and I can’t wait.

by cbwilk on Jun 11, 2008 2:11 AM EDT 0 recs

Good thing

To wait until we are 7.5 back and forgot how to win before getting help. Beautiful.

Oh well, please help us Chuck…oops that name is taken.

by WienerDog on Jun 11, 2008 8:11 AM EDT 0 recs

In my mind...

Stockman has done nothing to deserve being demoted, while “I’ll Cost Ya” has done everything to deserve it.

What I question is why Bobby keeps throwing him out there for more than one inning at a time. If they want to “stretch him out”, and make him into a middle reliever, it should be done in Richmond.

by VegasAces on Jun 11, 2008 10:02 AM EDT 0 recs

To build up confidence

When you do something wrong, don’t you want to get another crack at it, as soon as possible? Bobby’s giving Acosta that chance. Unfortunately, Acosta has failed to deliver, and we can only hope that Bobby pulls the plug on his chances sooner, rather than later, like he did with Macay McBride.

+1 for Morton up, Acosta down.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jun 11, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

If I were Manny, of course I’d want another chance. But at the same time, realizing that I can’t have 10 chances. I like the fact that Bobby sticks with guys, but it’s a fine line sometimes, and I think we’ve reached the end of that line.

In short, I agree.

by VegasAces on Jun 11, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'd be perfectly fine...

...with Acosta going down and Morton staying up.

Also, what does Morton normally throw? Low to mid 90s? Curveball, changeup, slider?

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 10:08 AM EDT 0 recs

“You’ve got stuff like that and control — which he did that day — you can pitch in the big leagues. He’s always had the stuff. He’s got a great curveball — not just a good one; a great one.”
That big “12 to 6” curveball complements his 95-98 mph heater. Morton also throws a sinking fastball and a very good change-up and slider. Braves bullish on Morton. AJC

by JDMaker1 on Jun 11, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

He can dial it up to 98?! Holy crap…and he’s got a big hook.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 11:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah. It begs the question: “What the hell has he been doing in Richmond for so long?” With a follow up question of: “Why didn’t I go watch him pitch some games for the RBraves?” (I live in Richmond).

by JDMaker1 on Jun 11, 2008 12:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yes, and yes. I live an hour north of Richmond.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 1:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ive been trying to get up there myself...

Im only an hour or so south of Richmond, and they have dollar beers on Thursday nights…

by clemsonfan on Jun 11, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’ve got friends and family in Richmond, and sadly, the most available time I’ll have will be in September, so I’ll probably not get to see another contest at the Diamond. :-(

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jun 11, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

He doesn't throw 98

I don’t know who did this reporting, but Charlie doesn’t throw 98. He might have a couple of times right out of high school, but now the highest he’ll touch is 95, usually working in the 89-93 range. And that curveball can be as good as any one you’ve ever seen.

by cbwilk on Jun 11, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

I was about to say…I thought I heard that he normally tops out at around 94. Pretty excited to see this guys.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

DOB did the reporting. So take it for what it is worth. But 95 isn’t exactly slow pitch softball.

by JDMaker1 on Jun 11, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

not at all

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

^^

I thought I’d throw in my .02

Morton will hit 96 maybe 97 in a game
He sits with his 4 seam at 93-95 topping out at 96
His 2 seamer runs 88-92

He did infact touch 98 at the game DOB was at.
He also was sitting 95-97 at the rising stars showcase in Surprise AZ during the Fall league…
Out of the pen he threw harder more consistently.. (94-97)

As a starter he will sit in the 92-94 range

by bravos408 on Jun 12, 2008 12:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

HOOOOOOOOOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by bigjoe on Jun 11, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Who is Mike Hampton?

by jug on Jun 11, 2008 10:46 AM EDT 0 recs

Isn't he an olympic swimmer or something?

"You never know what I'm going to do..."
- Michael Vick (Palm Beach Post 11/6/2005)

by jamesrael on Jun 11, 2008 10:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

Why not both?

Maybe I missed something here, but with Glav going on the DL, why is there all this talk of sending Morton up to take Acosta’s place? Can’t Morton just take Glav’s place? I mean, I’m not opposed to sending Acosta down for a while, but couldn’t we bring someone else up to replace Acosta and still bring up Morton? Maybe I am missing something very obvious here. Please, someone help me out.

"You never know what I'm going to do..."
- Michael Vick (Palm Beach Post 11/6/2005)

by jamesrael on Jun 11, 2008 10:49 AM EDT 0 recs

I say, send Manny down and bring up Morton and another bench player. Of course, Bobbo might actually have to utilize Stockman, et al in this scenario.

P.S.: What’s wrong with Josh Anderson. Isn’t he better defensively than Norton (obviously) and can’t he hit just about as well (if not better).

.........G – AB – R – H – 2B – 3B – HR – RBI – SB – CS – BB – SO – BA – OBP – SLG – *OPS+
JA…11 – 22—3 – 7 – 0 – 1 – 0 – 2 – 2 – 0 – 2 – 1 – .318 – .375 – .409 – 109
GN.. 35 – 71 – 9 – 18 – 4 – 0 – 2 – 15 – 0 – 0 -13 – 15 – .254 – .369 – .394 – 106

Sorry for the formating. I can’t get it to line up correctly. But you get the point.

by JDMaker1 on Jun 11, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up 0 recs

Bench Player

Any word on Prado’s injury status?

by VegasAces on Jun 11, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up 0 recs

as much as i like prado, do we really need THREE utility infielders?

by bigjoe on Jun 11, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

not at all.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

it does create a logjam, so the question is: do we outright him to AAA, or possibly give the axe to Gotay (despite his good performance as a PH) in favor of Prado’s versatility?

by VegasAces on Jun 11, 2008 12:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Prado only has 25 career PAs as a pinch hitter and he’s gone .250/.375/.300 in them. Gotay has 102 PAs as a pinch hitter and he’s gone .250/.324/.315 which is surprising to me. He has 9 career walks as a pinch hitter, and 7 of them have come for us this year…so it looks like he’s really starting to refine his craft in that role.

Tough to say, but I think Prado probably gets the nod becase of the aforementioned versatility. If we try to sneak Gotay through waivers he’d definetly get picked up.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 1:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Norton has more power potential, and takes about twice as many walks. That’s the only thing I can think of.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

He SO more though and is slow as sin (compared to Josh). Either way, IMO Josh should be getting some more PT.

by JDMaker1 on Jun 11, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree. Josh is a better fielder and is faster. Norton has more power and can take walks. It’s tough to say who is a better hitter due to small sample sizes.

Apparently Bobby prefers the latter.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wren confirmed that Charlie Morton, who has gone 4-2 with a 2.05 ERA for Triple-A Richmond, will likely start in Glavine’s place on Sunday, when the Braves play the Angels before ESPN’s nationally-televised audience.

by bigjoe on Jun 11, 2008 1:50 PM EDT 0 recs

Ha, well at least his first career start won’t be on a big stage or anything.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up 0 recs