Braves Make Third Round Of Spring Roster Cuts
by gondeee on Mar 24, 2011 4:21 PM EDT
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PrintThe Atlanta Braves have made their third round of spring training roster cuts:
Right-handed pitchers Juan Abreu and Jairo Asencio were optioned to Gwinnett (AAA) along with left-handed pitcher Mike Minor, infielder Diory Hernandez and outfielder Jordan Schafer.
So much on holding off on that Mike Minor fifth starter announcement. The Braves also optioned possibly two of their most effective relievers to Gwinnett, Abreu and Asencio. I wrote about this yesterday, and how much better they've pitched than either Scott Proctor or Cristhian Martinez.
The biggest news here is that with Diory Hernandez going to Gwinnett, it looks like Ed Lucas will win the final backup infield spot on the roster. Of course, Brandon Hicks is still on the roster, which includes 33 active players. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in cutting him from the MTM last week. Surely Hicks wouldn't be in the running for the backup infield spot?
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+1000
CEO and Founder of the Draft Ryan Mallet bandwagon.
by DolphinNation on Mar 24, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
^1000
Morton hit Heyward with an offspeed pitch. Early indication is that the baseball survived the impact.
=1000
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Infinity…and beyond?
/don’t know how to make the sideways 8 infinity symbol.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 5:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
TWSS
"That guy mvhsbball is really an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel
Twitter: @ScottColeman55
by Scott Coleman on Mar 24, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow.
Really surprised to see Matty Young and Ed Lucas make it farther than Hernandez.
I’m really starting to get pissed that Scott Proctor is still on the team.
And I really hope Jordan Schafer has a big year in AAA in hopes to re-claim the starting spot in 2012.
"That guy mvhsbball is really an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel
Twitter: @ScottColeman55
by Scott Coleman on Mar 24, 2011 4:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Sidebar...good luck tonight dude
CEO and Founder of the Draft Ryan Mallet bandwagon.
by DolphinNation on Mar 24, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks man you too.
"That guy mvhsbball is really an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel
Twitter: @ScottColeman55
by Scott Coleman on Mar 24, 2011 5:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
At this point how the hell can anyone making the decision to keep Proctor around sell that? Seriously, I’d just love to hear some reasoning from someone as to why he’s still here beyond “He’s a vet” or salary concerns.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 4:28 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Because...
It costs us no more to keep him through the rest of spring training than it would to cut ties now. Might as well keep him for the moment and see if he’s able to finally string together a couple good outings before the season begins.
Personally, I want him gone, too. But it doesn’t do any harm to keep him thru the end of ST.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Exactly.
This isn’t the final roster. We still have (I think) 4 days to cut him and not pay his whole salary. The guys we’re cutting now are the guys we want to keep around, not the guys we’ll be dumping if they don’t make the team.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on Mar 24, 2011 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions
This
Calm down guys, this is Not our final roster. I trust FW and FG to make the correct decisions concerning who makes the final roster.
*Just Chill* when things start to look a bit difficult-don't panic as you take away your ability to think straight. Go Braves! Go Dawgs! Go Falcons!
So Proctor and his awful outing (again, I might add) today are still up
and 2 guys that have out-pitched him all ST are sent to AAA. I’m speechless.
Glad to see Lucas survived this round of cuts, but why is Hicks still around?
CEO and Founder of the Draft Ryan Mallet bandwagon.
Ah yes, I forgot
he drives in RUNZ
CEO and Founder of the Draft Ryan Mallet bandwagon.
by DolphinNation on Mar 24, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
GAME TYING HR POWER. That’s why.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 4:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
So Mather’s still hanging around, right? I like how the announcers have shifted from comparing him to Werth to Francoeur.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 4:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hicks has been hitting the ball pretty well all Spring. Isn’t he a pretty good defensive infielder as well?
Please
Just send Proctor an KK to St Louis for Pujols already, solves their pitching needs and give Braves their RH bench bat!
"I wasn’t thinking about it. That’s the worst celebration of all time. I didn’t know what to do. I got lost in the moment." - Brian McCann
by HansonManCrush on Mar 24, 2011 4:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Cash is a lot better than his Spanish cousin, Cash Concideracions
by pancanbra on Mar 24, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think they wanted Abreu and Asencio to get some more seasoning in the minors anyway. I always thought that final bullpen spot was between Martinez and Proctor. And they’re not gonna waive Proctor until the last possible moment. They want to give him every chance to prove his worth because of his lack of options.
But I’m with everyone else, if they somehow choose Proctor over Martinez, I’ll be flummoxed.
Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. No way Abreu and Asencio make the team, so let them get ready for the season. No reason to cut Proctor at this point, even though there’s a 99.9% chance Martinez has that last spot locked up.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, my initial response was to be pissed, but then you remind yourself that in baseball they think of the big picture. And a lot of those guys going down with Minor to work on things and get better is a good thing.
.
by SuperHeyward on Mar 24, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, it’s hard as fans to admit ST games don’t matter, but the only benefit to keeping those two around over Proctor is to win more meaningless games. Of course, if anyone in the FO still believes Proctor is in any way a major league pitcher, I’m gonna snap like Charlie Sheen on a 60 hour coke bender.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Minor may not be down for long
JJ left his start early today with a ribcage “Tweak”.
Doubt he’ll miss a start.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
If they're
more worried about late inning defense than how he will produce at the plate then Yes, he’s still in the running.
Lead off walks usually lead to runs, unless they don't. -Joe Simpson
Would they go Hicks/Lucas and send Conrad down, or does this pretty much make me hate the moves of the FO this week?
This guy wants to suck all the cubs dick can he not have an unbias some what partition reguards
by RWH2 on Apr 5, 2010 10:20 AM CDT
by justincredubil02 on Mar 24, 2011 5:25 PM EDT reply actions
Probably just still want to get Lucas reps all over the field, so they still need a backup SS for ST.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Can Hicks play 2nd?
Or just SS and 3rd? If he could play 2nd above average like he does short and third, than I like the idea of having him and Conrad joining the other three. Mather can play all three outfield positions, and while he is not a great defender I would rather have a vulnerability in the OF versus the IF. Everything I have read indicates that Hicks is a better defender than Lucas, and if Lucas made the team he would be our fifth option as a pinch hitter, relegating him mainly defensive and pinch running duty, something that Hicks can do better. Hicks brings a RH bat and has more power potential, but really anything you get from him at the plate is a bonus.This would allow Conrad to be solely a pinch hitter except for emergency cases.
If he canno’t play 2nd, please forget this whole thing.
If you can play third...
You should be able to play second. The only real differences are covering the bag on pickoff/steal attempts and some double play-related stuff (fielding a throw from 3B/SS with your back to the runner, etc.) that isn’t necessarily any harder than anything you might be doing at third. Just takes practice, and I believe Lucas has been touted as being able to play everything but C/P.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
“Mather can play all three outfield positions, and while he is not a great defender I would rather have a vulnerability in the OF versus the IF.”
If he’s vulnerable defensively, why is he still the de facto extra outfielder? Dude hasn’t hit for shit, and has all the makings of a AAAA guy. I’m glad Wren and Co. are looking at other options, ‘cause Frenchy 2.0 ain’t the answer.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 6:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed
It just doesn’t make sense to give Mather the spot for any reason outside of playing the corners which might not be necessary with Hinske or even Young and his speed making the roster.
by aRC on Mar 24, 2011 9:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Mather
The reason I listed Mather is, while I personally don’t want him on the team based on spring training results, he was one of the bigger signings the FO made and they will give a him a chance to succeed and start him with the team. I really think he has this job locked up regardless of how he finishes. I hope not. I would love a bench of Ross, Hinske, Conrad, Hicks, Young/Lucas.
by ghutcheson13 on Mar 24, 2011 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Mather could turn it on this week and be fine, he had a pretty nice game yesterday with some hard hit balls. Just because he’s had a bad ST doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 25, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I get the feeling that Beachy is being showcased at the MLB level to gain trade value.
Minor will end the season as the 5th starter and Beachy will be in another city
How do I feel? Like f**king success - Jordan Schafer
We had the midget mafia over at second base: Me, Uggla and Conrad - Matt Young
I disagree.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Minor, Vizcaino, Teheran, and Delgado are all knocking at the door
No reason to keep him around if he can be used to bring in a good bat
How do I feel? Like f**king success - Jordan Schafer
We had the midget mafia over at second base: Me, Uggla and Conrad - Matt Young
None of those guys will be ready for a few months, except Minor
"It's like winning a war...you need arms and money." Fredi G
ummmmm
None of those guys will be ready for a few months, except Minor
Teheran and Vizcaino look VERY ready to me.
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Mar 25, 2011 5:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m pretty sure that Teheran’s 7 AA starts and Vizcaino’s 3 High A starts are evidence of their readiness.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
Just to pile on
They’ll each have an innings cap on them this season. FW isn’t going to take any chances with either of them, plus Delgado. They may pitch 30 more innings than last season, and with Vizcaino’s injury last season, he’ll probably be pretty flat compared to what he would have thrown last season, sans injury.
CEO and Founder of the Draft Ryan Mallet bandwagon.
by DolphinNation on Mar 25, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Lipka hit a double the other day, he’s in Low A ball, but he hit a double, probably means he’s about ready.
"It's like winning a war...you need arms and money." Fredi G
No doubt...we need doublez
CEO and Founder of the Draft Ryan Mallet bandwagon.
by DolphinNation on Mar 25, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
They’re not going to call up Teheran unless they absolutely have to. Why would they want to start his arb clock early when we already have 7-8 major league starters already ahead of him. And they’re not going to trade Beachy unless they really have to to fill another need. While it looks like we have a nice surplus of pitching now, that can change very quickly. Lowe and Hudson aren’t getting any younger, Hanson could blow out his elbow, and JJ has been prone to injury lately. Medlen will also be back in August, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t see JT at all this year.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 25, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
What makes you think
that Beachy is the trade bait and not Vizcaino or Delgado?
I’m not saying I’d rather trade Vizcaino or Delgado than Beachy, but you’d have to think they’d have a lot more value to most teams, and thus would bring a larger return. The same is true for Minor, though perhaps to a lesser degree.
It all depends on how FW wants to play it—go for it now or save all the prospects for later. I do think we trade at least one of these 5 guys at some point in the next year or two.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
by Jacob Peterson on Mar 24, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I seriously doubt the Braves make a trade involving any of them until mid-season/trade deadline at the earliest. An outlier possibility is some team with visions of contending and starting pitching concerns (the Yankees or …?) hits the panic button sooner than later, and a major opportunity is presented, but I view that as pretty unlikely.
Beachy probably won’t be able to handle the innings increase of pitching for the whole year anyways. So what is stopping the Braves from using him as a starter for the first half and in the pen for the second half? In the best case scenario you just replace him with Minor and have a very good #5 starter for the year.
"Give him the heater Ricky."
PROCTOR NEEDS TO BE GONE YESTERDAY
if this dude is still around when the season starts, you heard it here first: the Braves will lost the first three games he comes into if we are tie or winning.
Preacher meet choir.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 24, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Talking Chop has been blowing up this week.
It’s almost here guys and gals. Just a few more days and baseball is back.
"That guy mvhsbball is really an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel
Twitter: @ScottColeman55
+1000000000000000000000000000000
Still can’t figure out the infinity symbol.
OTT: where is everyone watching opening day? Me: Boathouse in glorious Myrtle Beach, SC, home of Kenny Powers comeback hopefully.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 6:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i feel vindicated
seems that the organization agreed with me on diory to give another kid a shot. we’ll see how it goes!
Wait - Kelly Johnson hits lefties better than righties? That just HAS to be backwards. - Bobby Cox as he looks at KJ's splits for his career
by Jareth Cutestory on Mar 24, 2011 6:33 PM EDT reply actions
Matt Young for Fourth Outfielder/Reserve Infielder
I am assuming that Conrad makes it so why do we need Mather? Conrad is someone I want to see come to the plate with the game on the line. I do not want to see him in the field with the game on the line. Also, why do we need Mather to play 3rd or 1st base when we have Prado who can play both and Hinske who can play 1st? Rather than keep a guy that might hit a few homers I would rather the Braves go with a player that can get on base and run like Matt Young. Also, Matt Young can play 2nd and he played 3rd recently. I know he doesn’t have a great arm but he can play the outfield better than Mather or Hinske for sure. I wish they would give him a shot because I know he could contribute. I am not too sure about Mather.
Why would you assume this? Lucas and Young do everything Conrad can do, and Mather is your 5th OF, and the only guy who can sort of back up center.
by Atlantaspike on Mar 24, 2011 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope nobody is reading too much into the bullpen cuts.
The bullpen we start the season with will not be the one we end the season with. Even if Proctor makes the OD roster (which I doubt), he’ll be dumped as soon as he pulls a Jo-Jo and replaced by someone better.
I think Martinez beats out Proctor for the last spot. At least one of Abreu and Ascencio, and probably both, will see some time in Atlanta this year, though. There will be injuries, and in all likelihood at least one of the initial 7 guys will stink it up. Remember, Jonny Venters didn’t start the year in Atlanta in 2010, but that didn’t stop him from being a huge part of the team.
"Yeah, and I have an enchanted jock strap." -- Karl Karlson
But why even risk it?
Do you really think he’ll go out there after Opening Day and turn it around? I haven’t seen anyone who thinks that, so why not get the guys who are producing and showing you something in there at the start. Utley’s down most likely for the start of the season, and why not try to start with the best guys you have? Proctor simply is not one of those. I’ll take the results I’ve seen with Abreu or Asencion.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 7:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Does this pen scare anybody else besides me?
If Venters arm is used like last year he will be dead by mid season. Kimbrel’s control still scares me. EOF has been fantastic ever since being with the Braves and has been godly this spring. Moylan has had a really good spring too but didn’t have a good year last year. Sherill has looked awful this spring and shouldnt ever face a RH hitter this year. Linenbrink has looked decent but his ERA last year was bad but was in a hitters park. If Proctor somehow makes it will only make things a lot worse, but I think Martinez makes it.
I hope at some point Jairo and Abreu tear apart AAA and somehow find a spot in ATL pen. I was hoping Hyde could be the future lefty in the pen but he was claimed off waivers.
Who are some lefty’s in our system if Sherill does terrible?
by PhuckthePhillies on Mar 24, 2011 7:30 PM EDT reply actions
I’m a little worried, but I guess the confidence I have in the rotation and offense eases my mind. If Sherrill bounces back, everything’s gravy. If not, ruh-roh. Not much we can do about it now, other than bringing up Abreu or Asencio.
by goesbetterwithbeer on Mar 24, 2011 7:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think Venters will be fine this year. He had to cover some extra inning last year because Saito couldn’t pitch back to back and EOF was out for a good chunk of the year. I think our pen is deeper overall this year and he won’t have to shoulder as much of the burden.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Mar 25, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Proctor still here WHAT ?
Why in the world LOL; Scott has looked terrible and may never make it back from Tommy John surgery completely. Proctor has veteran know how but he has be SHITTYY all spring training and today as well. Martinez was a great pickup for us last year and does his job/role well and is cheaper then Scott. Proctor was once a move I was hopeful of b.c. we always have had success in rebuilding pitchers careers especially bullpen ones left for dead but this one (Proctor) may be to far gone to save.
C. Martinez is a former Marlin as well so in the end he makes it in my book, the rest of the cuts do not shock me, Diory is trash with the bat, an Schafer may never become anything more then a fifth OF now. Still pulling for Ed. Lucas to make the club of B. Hicks something about Hicks has just never excited me plus I love the guys that have paided their dues and their time has come aka Ed. Lucas.
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Mar 24, 2011 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
what?
What in the world is a 5th outfielder? You’re either a back up or a defensive sub. Not to mention if the idea that Jordan was sent down becuase he may never be anything more than a 5th of, why are Mather and Young still around? At the very least Jordan is a better option as a 5th OF based on defense alone. Not advocating Schafer winning as spot yet, but your logic regarding the back up OF spot doesn’t make any sense.
Honestly I completely torn on who the bench spots go to outside of Conrad making the team. As I don’t by the idea that he is as bad a defender as he was in playoffs last year.
by aRC on Mar 24, 2011 9:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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