Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 8/21

By the time this gets posted it will be my birthday. Happy Birthday me! Also, I have received some info on the Zeke Spruill situ. It seems Zeke was, in fact, demoted for minor disciplinary reasons. Just thought I would put that out there.

Gwinnett 2, Norfolk 3

• G. Blanco 1-2 2 BB
• C. Burke 2-3 K

A rare August loss for Gwinnett, but they maintain their 3 game lead in the division. Greg White, does he get the call up or not when September hits? Just so you know, he has been abysmal this season. I don't doubt the Braves will give him the call, but there isn't any reason to.

Mobile 9, Mississippi 7

• M. Young 1-4 3B, BB, K, 2 SB(35)
• J. Heyward 1-4 RBI, BB
• K. Kirkland 1-3 2B, BB, 2K

I would just like to point out that Matt Young has a .988 OPS in the month of August with 4 triples and 14 walks vs only 4 K. He also has 6 SB and only 1 CS. He has been great so far this month and really has been the best player not named Heyward since June. I am going to keep giving him love until the Braves catch on.

Frederick 5, Myrtle Beach 9

• E. Mejia 2-3 2 HR(3), 4 RBI
• J. Sucre 1-4 HR(3), 3 RBI, 2K
  
• E. Cordier 5IP 5H 3R 4BB 8K

What is the one thing Ernesto Mejia does really well? Get XBH in bunches! In 50 ABs this season he has 10 XBH (only a total of 15 hits). Just to extrapolate a little, in a 50 AB season that would 100 XBH. The other thing he does well is strike out a lot as in 500 ABs he would be on pace for close to 140K. Eric Cordier's ERA is almost 1.5 runs higher in his last 11 starts as compared to his first 11 starts. The odd thing though is his peripherals are fairly similar between the two spans. Funny sport.

Charleston 5, Rome 6 - Play Resumed from 8/20

• A. Milligan 3-3 2B, 3 RBI, SB(2)
  

I already covered this game once yesterday.

Charleston @ Rome - RAIN

Funny.

Greeneville 1, Danville 4

• M. Jones 1-4 SB(17)
• O. Marval 2-4
• R. Hefflinger 2-4 2B
• C. Bethancourt 1-3 BB, 2K
• M. Crim 6IP 3H 0R 1BB 4K

My boy, Matt Crim, from Down Town Chuck Town, is representing my old stomping grounds. He improves himself to 10-0 on the season and he has been getting better and better each time out (Also side note, Charleston is a bit of a hot bed for baseball in recent years having seen Justin Smoak, Matt Witers, Bobby Parnell and R. J. Swindle all playing either High School or College ball there).  Also I have decided any time Christian Bethancourt gets a hit he is going to make a recap, because honestly, he is 17 and should be starting his Jr year of high school.

GCL Tigers 4, GCL Braves 0

• R. Lopez 5.1IP 8H 4R 1BB 1K
  

We have had a little back and forth here about 18 year old Robinson Lopez and how well he has been pitching (0 ER in his last 3 starts), so of course the one night I decide to pay attention to his numbers he gets knocked around. I am not going to pretend to know anything about the guy, but whenever an 18 year old can put up solid K rates to go along with decent walk totals I will give them som due.