Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 7/24 (Heyward is a Freak)
by yondaime4 on Jul 24, 2009 11:10 PM EDT
in Braves Minor League Recaps
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PrintLehigh Valley 5, Gwinnett 7
- JC Holt 2-4 3B, RBI, K, SB(12)
- B. Barton 1-3 HR(5), 3 RBI
I would like to write more here but there just wasn't a whole lot ot get excited about despite the 7 runs. Francisley Bueno started the game but only pitched one inning before being pulled (I think this was rehab for him) for John Halama who pitched a solid 5 innings. Brian Barton's 3-run shot was the difference maker in this game.
Mississippi 10, Tennessee 0
- J. Heyward 3-5 2B, HR(2), 3 RBI, BB
- C. Rodriguez 3-5 RBI
- S. Diamond 6IP 7H 0R 2BB 5K
I really don't want to talk about Jason Heyward in every recap, but he just doesn't give me much choice. He is now batting .417 as of the end of this game and has 9 XBH in his last 10 games along with 7 walks. I am completely in love with this guy, but I must temper this. He needs to get at least 100 ABs in Mississippi before going anywhere else, and probably closer to 150 (I don't think he can get up to 200 there this season). If he is still hitting over .350 come the end of August he might force the Braves hand on a September call up. Not to be overlooked, Scott Diamond pitched an excellent game (along with the bullpen).
Myrtle Beach 10, Winston-Salem 1
- C. Lee 1-5 HR(3), BB, K
- C. Johnson 1-4 HR(25), 2 RBI, BB, K, SB(10), CS(6)
- G. Rodriguez 3-4 HR(3), BB, K
- J. Thompson 6IP 2H 1R 3BB 5K
Cody Johnson did not want to be completely bested by Jason Heyward tonight. His contact rate is still way down this month with his batting average sitting at a cool .206 for July. Gerry Rodriguez is still hitting the ball well in the Carolina league and has posted an OPS that is equal to the one he had in Rome (.776).
Rome 4, Hickory 2
- Y. Campusano 2-4 3B
- L. Sumoza 2-4 RBI, K
- Z. Spruill 7IP 2H 2R 1BB 7K
Zeke Spruill is starting to get a second wind (not that he has ever been especially bad this season) and has 28 Ks in his last 24IP with only 14 hits allowed. He has been just as impressive over the long haul as well not allowing any more than 3 ER in any of his last 10 starts and only allowing more than 2 walks in one of those. He still maintains a 4:1 K:BB rate for the season, which is spectacular.
Danville 6, Bluefield 9
- M. Jones 1-3 HR(3), 2 RBI
- O. Marval 2-5 2B, RBI, K
- J. Teheran 5IP 7H 5R 2BB 4K 9-2 GB-FB
Danville blew our chance at the organizational sweep, but we still get the full season sweep (currently dependent on the team in Atlanta winning) I don't know where Julio Teheran has been, but he came back a little bit rusty. Really the killer was a 3-run homer that he gave up, his other components were fairly solid as you can see.
GCL Braves 2, GCL Phillies 3 - 7 Innings
- K. Rose 1-4 K
- J. Hanson 1-4 2B, RBI, K
- R. Pacheco 5IP 6H 2R 2BB 3K
Hey look, complex ball!
GCL Braves 2, GCL Phillies 4
- J. Dalfonso 1-2 2B, BB
- K. Farrell 5IP 6H 4R 3BB 3K
More complex ball!
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How old is Zeke?
2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP AND Omar Minaya!
by Scott Coleman on Jul 24, 2009 11:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
So what are the odds he’s a part of the 2011 rotation?
2011:
JJ
Hanson
Lowe
Medlen/Minor/Lyman/Cordier/Osuna/Spruill?
Anyone else in that picture?
Gotta figure a big name FA pitcher since we’ll have a lot of money after Javy, KK and Huddy contracts are done.
2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP AND Omar Minaya!
by Scott Coleman on Jul 24, 2009 11:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
money=offense at that time..IMHO
Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?
by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST
That depends
largely on Schafer and Heyward next year. If Heyward looks like a legitimate big league hitter when he gets his chance (and it’s inevitable that it will be next year at the latest) and Schafer produces on the level most of us believe he can, our outfield will be set with those two and McLouth.
We’ll also still have our current starting IF at that point (I think-not completely sure about Kotchman) and Freeman could be ready for 2011 as well.
Braves will definitely be players in Free Agency prior to 2011, but we can’t be completely sure what they’ll be shopping for. Likely at least one bullpen arm, probably a LOOGY as well, and maybe an extra corner infielder as a Chipper insurance policy.
He is a college pitcher and will most likely start his pro career at a higher level, and go through the ranks faster if he is good.
Baseball is my life
......
I was responding to you.
Baseball is my life
Then why did you click "reply" on my post
by esadb on Jul 25, 2009 1:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thanks for clearing that up
So we might be stuck with him in 2011. I’ll assume his contract is progressive (or backloaded, however you want to look at it), so he might be an albatross for us as a 36 year old.
And that leaves Medlen, Minor, Lyman, Diamond, Osuna, and possible Rohrbough (if he can recover) battling for that 5th rotation spot. So maybe we’ll take our time with Minor a bit more.
And I wouldn’t consider us stuck with him. I’m sure there are probably lots of other teams who would love to have a reliable back of the rotation starter who can put up numbers like KK. He is fairly expensive but certainly not unreasonable. We paid a premium to enter the Japanese market.
Not trying to say he isn’t valuable, but whether he’ll still be pitching like this in 2 years is debatable. There’s a long history of Japanese pitchers having success in their first year or two in the MLB, followed by an immediate dropoff as the novelty wears off and the league adjusts. Not to mention that KK is a nit older than most Japanese pitchers who’ve made the immigration, and probably won’t be as valuable at 36 as he is at 34.
Take a look at Dice-K, Nomo, Ohka, Ishii….there’s plenty of Japanese pitchers who fall off in their third year.
He actually makes 1M less next year.
Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.
by VivaLosBravos on Jul 25, 2009 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Spruill
I would expect by 2012. But I think Hoover, Thompson, and Ortegano (unless he projects as a reliever) could be competitive for a rotation spot by that time.
Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.
by VivaLosBravos on Jul 25, 2009 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions
All hail lord Heyward!
2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP AND Omar Minaya!
by Scott Coleman on Jul 24, 2009 11:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Small samples are small samples; whether they’re 50, 100, or 150 PAs, they don’t hold much predictive value. I don’t put much stock in the fear of “rushing” prospects. Guys like Heyward who are disciplined hitters can be “rushed” more than guys who aren’t as disciplined. This is a guy who posted 16% K rates at Low A and High A to go along with 10% walk rates at both levels. He’s hit for average, not just gotten lucky, at every level. He’s pretty skilled defensively, etc. There’s not much reason not to let him play at Triple A for the rest of the season and give him a chance in the majors after that.
Good call
It’s not like there’s any specific improvement he has to make. His game is very solid and polished.
Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.
by VivaLosBravos on Jul 25, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I think so too. I’m pretty sure he’s a super 2 as well
2009 Atlanta Braves Motto: We ♥ leaving RISP AND Omar Minaya!
by Scott Coleman on Jul 25, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow! How sweet is it that we will have two really young, super-talented, and proven young arms like JJ and Hanson under team control for such a long period of time. The Braves must be the envy of about 25 other teams right now. I bet the Tigers are really kicking themselves for that Renteria trade. This sort of situation is how lower to mid-level market teams win championships…….and we can actually afford to keep them through their entire arbitration years.
Its strange.
Everyone thinks JJ will be a very good starter, including most of the Braves. But Bobby Cox says he can only see him ending up a #4 starter… No one else with the Braves can figure out why he thinks that, neither can I. I mean, maybe #3 at worst, but idk about 4.
well if our #4 starter has an ERA below 3, i’d gladly take it.
7/24/2009 - "The Phillies are too far ahead in the NL East for the Braves to make a run." - Buster Olney
REMEMBER THAT BOYS.
by Scott Coleman on Jul 25, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions
are you sure
he wasnt saying in reference to the starters we already have?
Also could be because his sometimes lack of high K’s but ppl facing him have said the thing that makes him hard is that he hardly throws anything down the middle of the plate. all he throws is pitches on the corner and its all of them.
Also what has helped him is the development of his Slider/Slurve being able to throw it more consistently for a strike.
The guy is basically a young Maddux.
by drumzalicious on Jul 25, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions
No, he really thinks Jair can only be a number 4 starter. In any rotation.
And a young Greg Maddux? Really?
That’s a pitching style comparison. Not a value comparison.
Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.
by VivaLosBravos on Jul 25, 2009 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
obviously.
why would i compare JJ to one of the greatest pitchers of all time?
That whole imaginary conversation between Huddy and Cole was made up. And just for fun too.
Laugh. Its good for you every once in a while my man.
7/24/2009 - "The Phillies are too far ahead in the NL East for the Braves to make a run." - Buster Olney
REMEMBER THAT BOYS.
by Scott Coleman on Jul 25, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions
People say crazy, unbelievably stupid things on here.
Someone would say that he is the next Maddux and be completely serious.
JJ is a poor mans Greg Maddux, and Hanson is the rich Mans Smoltz. Its Unbelievable that you can’t see that. Look at how dominant JJ has been through 1 in a half years in the majors. He paints the corners just like Maddux. But I dont think anybody was saying he is as good as Maddux just that he pitches just like him.
Baseball is my life
Yes, people like you say crazy, unbelievably stupid things on here
I call BS on Bobby only thinking Jair can be a #4. Bobby has never had a young player that he didn’t talk up like they were th next coming of [insert HOFer here]. Remember how much he loved Chuck James? Do you have a link to someone saying Bobby thinks this? Jair has already shown that he is no worse than the #2 pitcher on the best staff in the NL, and nobody would be quicker to point that out than #6.
I hope
Heyward and Freeman haven’t been promoted by the time Mississippi makes it into Chattanooga next month. Can’t wait to go see them.
I was at the Danville game. I think there was a bit of a flu going around a few of the guys and that’s why Teheran hadn’t pitched in a little bit. Brett Olberholtzer told me he had been pushed back a few days because of it.
Teheran was really impressive. He served up a homer on an absolute meatball, but otherwise he was throwing 92-94 with the fastball, 76-78 with a sweeping curve, and the occasional changeup. A couple of times he bore down and really went after guys. It wasn’t a great overall appearance, but the talent is definitely there.
"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
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