Braves Weekly Winter League Wrap: 11/10-11/16

by cbwilk on Nov 18, 2010 1:55 AM EST in Braves Minor League Recaps

Catcher Orlando Mercado had a 1.314 OPS this week while playing in his native Puerto Rico.

In the Arizona Fall League, outfielder Cory Harrilchak was 4-14 this week with 3 walks for the Phoneix Desert Dogs. Infielder Tyler Pastornicky was 1-3 with a walk in the lone game he played in. Righthander Cory Gearrin allowed 1 run in 2 innings, striking out 4, in his only appearance of the week. righty Benino Pruneda was rocked in his lone relief apparance, allowing 4 run while only recording 1 out.

Down in the Mexican Winter League, outfielder Matt Young cooled off a bit for Navojoa, going 5-23 with 2 RBI and 6 walks. Tim Gustafson had his best appearance for Navojoa, allowing 1 run over 3.2 relief innings, striking out 3 while walking 5. In 6 games for Obregon, first baseman Barbaro Canizares went 6-24 with a double, 2 homers, 8 RBI, and 4 walks.

Infielder Luis Bolivar had a nice week for Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League, going 5-13 with 2 doubles and a stolen base. Catcher JC Boscan went 1-4 with a walk in 2 games for Margita. Lefty Luis Avilan made 2 relief appearances for Lara, tossing 2 scoreless innings.

Righty Jairo Asencio, formerly known as Luis Valdez, continued to pitch well for Este in the Dominican Winter League, allowing 1 run over 3.1 innings in 3 appearances, picking up 1 save. Teammate Mauro Gomez had a great week also, as the first baseman went 7-24 with 2 RBI, while Wilkin Ramirez was just 1-8. Infielder Diory Hernandez was 7-19 with 2 homers and 4 RBI for Escogido.

In the Puerto Rican Winter League, catcher Orlando Mercado was 3-7 with 2 doubles, 3 RBI, and 3 walks. Lefty Steve Kent had another solid start in the Australian Winter League, tossing 2 scoreless innings for Canberra. Catcher Matt Kennelly debuted with Perth, going 1-12 in his first 4 games with the team.

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You know it's coming...

“But I don’t understand. Every time I watch Matt Young play he’s always tearing it up!”

by TBuzz on Nov 18, 2010 8:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions

after 30 games and approximately 124 PAs in the Mexican Winter League: .368/ .463/.491
not too shabby

by fandave on Nov 18, 2010 8:40 AM EST up reply actions

Hope to see Matt Young make the team out of Spring Training. Let him show what he can do. We already know he can play at AAA level. I think the guy has earned a shot.

by Sparhawk on Nov 18, 2010 9:32 AM EST reply actions

While we’re at it, bring up Barbaro Canizares and Clint Sammons too! Let’s reward all of our prospects in their late 20s / early 30s for waiting so long to develop!

by TBuzz on Nov 18, 2010 9:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Canizares

Is a beast. Enoug said.

Admired as a saint. Defined by my rank. Combined with my strength. My time and my length.

by ArmyITSpec on Nov 18, 2010 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

Matt Young has earned a shot. I mean everyone’s wanting to bring in some speed guy that will post a .320 OBP. Why would you do that when you have Matt Young around. Speed, doubles power and he won’t make a bunch of outs. He’s a perfect late inning replacement, pinch runner. I think you have to give him a shot in ST, Young is a glue guy that’s always going to be a tough out.

"Make the most of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere." - George Washington, 1794

Everything made from oil and wood can be made from HEMP. It's the earth's number one bio-mass resource.

by timmy3 on Nov 18, 2010 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

Frank Wren spoke real highly of Matt Young the other day. He also said Jordan Schafer “is finally healthy after missing parts of 2 seasons”. And as long as I live, I will not get tired of reading…“formerly known as Luis Valdez”.

Great stuff, thanks CB

Free Matt Young!

by bighop on Nov 18, 2010 10:41 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I hope all these Matt Young disciples realize that if he’s not the 2nd best CF or LF on our team when we break ST…then they’ll have plenty of him to watch in Suwanee. I don’t think FW is done making moves, but why give him the ticking time bomb that is a major league contract unless you are absolutely sure he can make the big club…

by TBuzz on Nov 18, 2010 10:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I watched him 7 times last season, that’s why I hope he gets a decent shot in ST. Reports are that Fredi watched a lot of Braves minor league ball after his firing from Fla, with him living in Marrietta, I’d assume he watched Young a good bit too.

Free Matt Young!

by bighop on Nov 18, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

I’d like to see him win a job on the bench. He’s good enough for that. The dude flat out hustles, and he has no ego, which makes him a perfect bench player. He can be used as a defensive replacement for Uggla, by taking over for Prado in LF and letting Prado move into 2B, and he can play some CF and the occasional 2B. And as a pinch runner you’re probably not gonna find a better option in the Braves’ high minors. I don’t think he should be a starter, because I’m just not sure he’s good enough to play regularly, maybe in a limited platoon, but he’s definitely good enough to be in the Majors.

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by cbwilk on Nov 18, 2010 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

Enough to see someone like Eric Hinske go? It will depend on what FW wants to do with out bench…

by TBuzz on Nov 18, 2010 1:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Hinske and Young shouldn’t have any bearing on each other. Hinske barely played in the outfield after June, he’s mostly just a first baseman and a pinch hitter. There’s room on the bench for both a backup outfielder and a backup firstbaseman. And whether or not Hinske stays has to do with how much the Braves are willing to pay to have him and his desire to stay. I don’t see how Young and Hinske are related at all, aside from the fact that both are bench options.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
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by cbwilk on Nov 18, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions