Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 6/27

by yondaime4 on Jun 28, 2009 12:04 AM EDT in Minor League Recaps Comment 23 comments

Louisville 3, Gwinnett 4

B. Canizares 2-4 K
C. Burke 1-3 HR(1), 3 RBI, BB, K

Gwinnet is now 42-35 and sits just a half game out of first place in their division with Norfolk and Durham both in a virtual tie at the top. Should be an interesting race to the finish for the G-Braves who have played really well on the road but are a game under .500 at home.

Birmingham 3, Mississippi 1 - Suspended in the 3rd

Myrtle Beach 3, Lynchburg 6

F. Freeman 0-2 3 BB
J. Heyward 2-5 BB, K
C. Johnson 1-3 2B, RBI, BB

The good thing about playing in the low minors is your team gets a reset at the halfway point of the season. After an abysmal first half of the season the Pelicans are off to a 2-1 start to the second half of the season. This team has tons of talent with Jason Heyward, Frederick Freeman and Cody Johnson ancoring the lineup. The problem is the back half of the lineup is a vacuum. The hit like 3 consecutive FYF's. Actually they are much worse. A bullpen implosion lost the game for Eric Cordier in this one.

Augusta 7, Rome 3

L. Sumoza 2-4
M. Kennelly 3-4 HR(1), 2 RBI
E. Spruill 6IP 8H 6R 2BB 5K

Zeke Spruill was absolutely dealing in this game until the 6th ininng. Only one of the runs he allowed in this game was earned. In the 6th he intentionally walked the bases loaded with 1 out and got the double play ball to the shortstop who then promptly threw it away. He got another ground ball on the next play and they got the man at home, but he gave up a grand slam to the next batter. His defense really has killed him this season. Zeke looked great in the All Star game the otherr night and I will probably get my pictures up tomorrow or Monday. I still have some editing to do. Also I am happy to see Matt Kennelly demoted to Rome. I couldn't fathom why they had skipped him to Myrtle Beach to start the season when he only had 10 game in Rome last year. I know they are high on him, and we have some serious depth at catcher right now, but starting him in the Carolina League seemed like an out of the ordinary move for the Braves. I think he can really succeed in Rome and build his confidence for next season to maybe move quickly.

Danville 6, Greenville 12

LV Ware 2-4 BB
R. Hefflinger 2-5 2 RBI, K
R. Spanjer-F 2-4 2B, 2 RBI

The Danville Braves finally lost a game though not because they finally stopped hitting. The offense put up another 14 hits and LV Ware is hitting .500 through his first 5 games and Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg is hitting .600. I have to say I am impressed so far considering he has never played any baseball outside of South Africa. He is 21 so I would think he will get a call up pretty quick if he keeps even half this pace. Ware was demoted from Rome earlier in the season after not hitting at all, but he has come back with a vengeance since the Appy Season has started.

GCL Pirates 8, GCL Braves 9

J. Linger 2-5 2B, 3B
R. Odreman 2-5 2B, HR(4), 2 RBI, K
M. Kramer 3-4 HR(1)

More offense from the Braves rookie clubs. Robert Odreman has been unconscious so far this season. He has 6 hits in 17 at bats so far and they have all been for extra bases. He is slugging 1.235 so far, but he does have 6 strike outs in his 17 ABs. I have looked all the way back to 1991 and I can't find any GCL Braves player who ever hit more than 8 homers. Another key Odreman has going for him is that he is only 20 years old which isn't crazy old for the GCL, especially when his hitting like this. If Riaan Spanjer gets moved up to Rome expect to see Odreman to immediately take his place. Or maybe they both get moved to Rome. Who knows, we are only 4-5 games in.

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Odreman for RF by July!

60% of the time, it works every time

by ATLandUNC on Jun 28, 2009 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m also interested in seeing what happens with these rookie ball first-basemen. RSF and Odreman don’t look like they belong in rookie ball at all so far. And there’s likely a handful of other bats at D’ville we might be able to say that about after we see them for a few weeks.

The biggest problem these guys face as first basemen, is despite the fact that they aren’t that old, Freeman is younger. I wonder with these two and with Gerry Rodriguez if they could move these guys off of first possibly. I’m not really sure any of these guys have the athleticism for another spot, but all of them throw righty and none of them are especially tall for first base (6’2"-6’3").

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jun 28, 2009 3:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice to see out of Oderman. I remember looking at his DSL stats last year and being impressed, so it’s nice to see that he’s actually been able to come over and produce. He keeps it up, I’d have to think he’ll end up on some Mid Season Top Prospect lists.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jun 28, 2009 4:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Norton's "Rehab Assignment"?

This seems just odd. Originally, there was the mystery injury to his ankle, as I recall, landing him on the DL. Then, he quickly turned up in Gwinnett, where he has been playing everyday. Last night was his 7th game for the GBraves. Hardly seems like the typical rehab assignment.

Whatsup with this?

by fandave on Jun 28, 2009 8:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They can have up to a 30 day rehab assignment. If his injury was a fake, then maybe this was just a way of getting him some ABs to try to get his swing back. He could spend a month in AAA getting himself right before getting activated.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jun 28, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although there had to be SOME real injury...

MLB doctors review all DL transactions

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 28, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm loving our late round draft picks.

But where is out signability lefty? Any news on him?

by blitzerlover on Jun 28, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

my guess is Minor is waiting out the market to see what everyone else is going to get. That or the Braves never intended to actually sign him.

by yondaime4 on Jun 28, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"That or the Braves never intended to actually sign him."

I certainly hope that’s not the case, because that would be very bad faith of the organization and definitely screwing the guy over. I have to assume that its Minor waiting it out to let the market settle, or that the Braves really aren’t in a rush to sign him because they have a plan to rest him anyways due to his pitching a lot of innings this year in college.

by soup du jour on Jun 28, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad faith?

It’s a good business move if they set a limit they won’t overspend.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 28, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, it would be bad faith if they drafted him with the intention of not signing him in the first place (my response to the quote from yondaime). I would be disappointed if the Braves didn’t stick to their guns and sign him for slot money.

by soup du jour on Jun 28, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that were the case… Wouldn’t it have made a lot more sense to draft someone who would be tougher to sign (like Matzek), and then just offer him slot and force him to turn it down? Whereas if you were to draft someone like Minor who would presumably sign for a lot less, then it’s just obvious you weren’t going to use your first round pick, and it looks fishy.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jun 28, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really...

You take this kid and low-ball him in the hopes you save money, and if not, too bad.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 28, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And next year when we’re picking twice in the top 10, then what happens?

Do we go cheap again?

The draft is not the place to go cheap. Ask Pirates fans.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jun 28, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couple ways around that:

1. It could allow us to sign a Type A FA who might not necessarily be super-expensive (i.e. Cruz this year) without actually “losing” a pick.
2. They know better than we do about the talent that will be out there and whether it will be a lot of HS kids making ridiculous demands with all the leverage as it was this year.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 28, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As this draft is already evidencing… Just because you take second round talent in a top ten spot doesn’t mean they’ll want second round money. So two high draft choices aren’t going to be balanced by us losing a second rounder. Obviously we could start playing too good and not have a protected first round pick, but I’m not holding my breath on this bunch of losers.

I think we’re going to sign Minor so it’s probably a moot point. But I also like to see this organization spend, and the draft is one of the best places to do so.

And dropping a draft pick for a Juan Cruz type is just silly. Which is no franchise worth a damn even considered signing him.

Q: If on-base pct is so important then why don't they put it on the scoreboard? -Failcoeur

A: Because the Braves don't want to show their fans how bad you suck.

by timmy3 on Jun 28, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs