Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 7/26

by yondaime4 on Jul 26, 2009 10:42 PM EDT in Braves Minor League Recaps

Lehigh Valley 1, Gwinnett 5

R. Gorecki 2-4 3B, RBI, K
B. Jones 1-2 2B, RBI, 2 BB
G. Blanco 2-3 HR(2), 2 RBI

This is crazy! Brandon Jones has 4 XBH in his last 4 games. He better be careful or SLG will rise above .400. Gregor Blanco broke out of his slump (0 hits in his last 7 games; and to think we might have had him in CF full time earlier this year) with a couple of hits. Barbaro Canizares has seen his AVG fall down to .308 on the season but his OPS is still sitting at a respectable .845.

Mississippi - Off

The Southern League gets a day off from Jason Heyward's assault.

Myrtle Beach 3, Winston Salem 4

D. Linares 2-4 2 2B, RBI
C. Johnson 1-4 3B, 3K

Nothing much going on in this one. Cody Johnson has 6 XBH in his last 10 games but he also has 16K in that span. He appears to be reverting back to his early season form now that Heyward and Freeman are gone. Maybe he is pressing too much.

Rome 2, Kannapolis 3

A. Milligan 2-3 HR(4), RBI, BB, K
R. Barba 3-4 2 2B

So who do you guys think has a better chance to become our LF of the future? Milligan or Johnson? Cody has a better eye right now but Milligan appears to have better contact ability, though his K rate is still decently high. If he can get his walks up he would become a very nice prospect.

Bluefield 5, Danville 2

M. Jones 2-4 2B
C. Harrilchak 2-3 RBI, BB
C. Masters 4IP 5H 5R 2BB 3K

I really like the package that Mycal Jones brings to the plate with him. He has 9 XBH in his last 10 games and on the season he is putting up a .276/.371/.488 line. He takes walks pretty well (16 in 123 AB) and uses his speed well so far (6 SB with 0 CS). At this point his only weakness is the typical strike out problem (30 in the same 123 AB). Cory Harrilchak is described by Baseball America as a "more of a grinder than a tools guy" and that he has a good feel for hitting. That appears to be apt as he has posted a .349 AVG so far with a 13/7 BB/K split in 106 ABs. There are some solid looking players down in the Appy league. I can't wait to see what they do in full season ball next year.

GCL Braves - Off

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Comments

We need a guy like Mycal Jones around here

by esadb on Jul 26, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions

After seeing him play the other night, I’m a huge fan. He’s instantly our top SS prospect.

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

by cbwilk on Jul 27, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

not saying much

by was385 on Jul 27, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions

why not? even if we choose to keep yunel in the long run, we’re still holding auditions for the future chipper replacement. it doesn’t look like pope is going to cut it.

"When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail."

by Bravely going forward on Jul 27, 2009 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions

He was saying that being called our best SS prospect doesn't mean much.

When we don’t really have any SS prospects…

by esadb on Jul 27, 2009 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions

yup

by was385 on Jul 27, 2009 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions

ah, okay. but i still think cb’s right to be excited about the guy.

"When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail."

by Bravely going forward on Jul 27, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

pope...

…was NEVER the heir apparent to Chipper.

That award goes to Eric “I’m a fucking dick” Campbell

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jul 27, 2009 5:52 AM EDT up reply actions

oh, i know, i just used him as an example since he’s at AAA

"When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail."

by Bravely going forward on Jul 27, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

why do we care about Barbaro’s OPS? its not on the scoreboard!?!?! Seriously, why is this 19 year old stud in the minors. Okay really, why is he still here? We don’t really need Norton, and worst comes to worst Barbaro is a fail and needs some polishing so we just bring Norton back

Yunel is the Queen of Hearts

by GoBravesNY on Jul 26, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

No heyward...

No fun :(

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 26, 2009 10:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Seriously, what’s up with a AA team having a Sunday off? Seems wrong not to have baseball on a Sunday afternoon.

Anyone know why Milligan is still in Rome? He’s been killing the ball the last two weeks, and his line for the season is looking very good. If Randy Gress is good enough for the Beach, Milligan definitely is.

by Bronn on Jul 26, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

The Southern League only has 5 game series, including only having 10 day home stands (and thus 10 day road trips). They don’t get days off in the middle of a series or usually during a homestand, so they tend to take them wherever they fall, which is sometimes on a Sunday. I’m sure the players don’t mind not playing a day game every once in a while.

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

by cbwilk on Jul 27, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

He's only played 19 games there.

So it’s not like he’s been wasting a lot of 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 27, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I haven’t seen anything about Brett Devall recently. Is he hurt or have I just been oblivious?

by JohnBaRocker4President on Jul 26, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

I think he had a forearm strain or something of the sort

by yondaime4 on Jul 27, 2009 12:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

good point. havent seen him either in a long time. Hmm…

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 27, 2009 12:23 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Considering that Cody is 5 months younger than Milligan and already playing at the higher level, you pretty much have to view him as the better player. Add in that he’s proven himself as an immense power source as a professional, and the edge becomes bigger. Milligan looks like a fine player, but he’s still got to prove he can succeed over the course of a full season.

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

by cbwilk on Jul 27, 2009 12:48 AM EDT reply actions

on the other hand

a case could be made that Johnson has pretty much shown that he doesn’t have the contact ability to be a starter in the majors. He really hasn’t made progress on that since starting his pro career and the chances of him turning it around and becoming a good major league starter are slim at best.

The real answer is, who knows. Neither is even at AA, both have contact issues, both have upside.

by was385 on Jul 27, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions

i always thought it was accepted that he was an Adam Dunn Type?

by drumzalicious on Jul 27, 2009 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions

That could be his ceiling

But its not likely

by esadb on Jul 27, 2009 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions

it is by Braves fans

but realistically, there are a minuscule number of major leaguers who had the type of contact issues in the minors that Johnson has. Guys who strike out that much in the low minors tend to get chewed up and spit out by more advanced pitching. If you look at the Dunn comp closer, it really doesn’t hold up that well.

Dunn has a career 32% strikeout rate in the majors and only 22% in his minor league career, Johnson is at 38% this year and 36% for his minor league career, and even Jack Cust struck out only 33% in his minor league career. Keep in mind that both of those guys’ totals include their time against AA and AAA pitching, Johnson has yet to face anything higher and a-ball

by was385 on Jul 27, 2009 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes looking at the bright side of things will make your analysis better

Johnson hasn’t gotten chewed up as he’s advanced—he’s improved. Comparing this year to last, his BB%, OBP, ISO are all up (even though the BABIP is lower), while the K% is down (ever so slightly, but still lower).

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jul 27, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm talking advanced pitching

meaning AA and up normally. I’ll give him credit for all those things but it’s not his walks or power that is going to keep him from being a big-time player in the majors, it’s the strikeouts and he has made a negligible improvement (the difference between 122 strikeouts so far and his 120). When he gets to AA and starts seeing more advanced secondary pitches, I can almost guarantee you that his strikeout rate will rise considerably. I know Braves fans are in love with his power, but the chances of him being able to actually get use out of that are tiny because his contact rate is just so awful.

by was385 on Jul 27, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You may be right, but you may be wrong

I just think your analysis is too definitive in this case. Normally with this type of player, you wouldn’t see improvements, just poorer and poorer results. I just don’t think his chances of being a useful ML player are as small you’re making it seem (or else I could be misinterpreting your point).

by buzzdeadwax on Jul 27, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I may be, I hope I am

that would be great, but looking at where he is, how little progress he’s made, and his strikeout rate against as a whole, very raw A-ball pitchers it’s pretty realistic. There’s always the chance that something just clicks for him and he’s able to be that big slugger in the middle of our lineup, but a more realistic best case would probably be Russell Branyan. A guy with tons of power, pretty good on-base skills, and horrible contact who has productive seasons here and there but never really catches on because the contact makes him too inconsistent. Even Branyan was a highly regarded prospect though and Johnson isn’t. I hope he becomes Dunn, but I have next to zero faith in that ever happening.

by was385 on Jul 27, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Or how about a Russel Branyan type. Russel strikes out a ton, but he’s still making it in the majors cause of his power.

by Sparhawk on Jul 27, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Brooks Conrad

I made it to my 1st Gwinnett Braves game on Friday and I will say it was an awesome experience. The proximidy to the field/players is just something you can’t experience at the big show.

Anyway…they had Conrad playing SS and I’m guessing this is to round him out for his next call up. He did pretty good showing range with the backhand and a strong enough arm to play the position. His bat stayed hot and they had him in the 3 hole so there must be plans for his future. Either trade bait or as an utility guy (2nd, SS, or 3B).

by Chesterhighwater on Jul 27, 2009 9:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions