Week four of the MTM; it's hard to believe that Spring Training has been going on for a month. This week we'll combine the pitchers and hitters into one MTM, as the roster has been trimmed quite a bit from cuts, and only a few key battles remain.
To begin with we'll assume that there is a group that has already made the team. This week I'm adding Martinez and Medlen to the relievers list, as it has been repeatedly said that both of them will be in the bullpen. There is still a chance that Meds ends up in the rotation, but for now we'll assume he's in the pen. I also added Minor to the rotation, as he's absolutely locked down a spot.
Starters: Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Brandon Beachy, and Mike Minor (1 spot available)
Relievers: Craig Kimbrel, Jonny Venters, Eric O'Flaherty, Kris Medlen, and Cristhian Martinez (2 spots available)
Starting Lineup: Michael Bourn, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward, and Freddie Freeman (1 spot available at shortstop)
Bench: David Ross, Eric Hinske, and Matt Diaz (2 spots available)
Player, Position | This Week |
Last Week | Roster Status | Notes and Comments |
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Jairo Asencio, RHP |
He's pitched pretty good this spring, and it should be enough (combined with him being out of options) to make the team. I'm going to say that Asencio is a slow starter, so I want to look more at his numbers last year than his spring numbers. |
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Randall Delgado, RHP |
With the news of Medlen moving to the pen, and everyone and their brother saying Delgado is ahead of Teheran, it sure looks like Delgado will open the season as the team's fifth starter. |
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Yohan Flande, LHP |
Flande has been okay this spring. He's only given up one hit in five innings, but walked four. I'm not sure what to make of him, though my gut says he'll open in Gwinnett. His ability to be used in long relief could be an asset. |
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Robert Fish, LHP |
Fish hasn't pitched in a Major League spring game in over a week. He may have had some simulated innings on a back field, but nothing for us to judge him by. At this point I'd say there's no way he makes the team. |
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Cory Gearrin, RHP |
He's been terrific this spring, and he's gotten me kind of excited with what he might become. Of course, working with Gene Garber in the off-season on his (Gearrin's) one pitch that needed work will do that. At this point, unless something weird happens in the final two weeks, I'd say he's earned a spot in the pen. |
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Dusty Hughes, LHP |
He's pitched good enough to make most teams, but do the Braves need a LOOGY, which is pretty much what Hughes is. Between him and Flande, I'd say neither make the team. |
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Adam Russell, RHP |
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He's been striking people out this spring, but he's also been way too hittable. There's a reason he's bounced around so much the past few seasons; he's one of those bubble guys, and right now I'd say he's not in the bullpen picture. |
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Julio Teheran, RHP |
Having a pretty bad spring -- 9 home runs allowed. It looks like Delgado is winning the fifth spot, and Teheran seems to have some things he needs to work on (which is a weird thing to say considering how much he dominated triple-A last year). We'll see him in Atlanta at some point, just not to open the year. |
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Anthony Varvaro, RHP |
He's been way too hittable this spring, and has probably pitched his way out of a bullpen spot. |
And now the hitters.
Player, Position | This Week |
Last Week | Roster Status | Notes and Comments |
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Jose Constanza, OF | He has not made this team. There's still time left for him to come on strong, but at this point he starts in Gwinnett (and might have even earned himself a trip off the 40-man). |
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Luis Durango, OF | Right now Durango is playing lights-out, and I'd say he's streets ahead of Constanza. A lot will depend on how each of them perform in the final two weeks of spring. Both of them are also in contention with Parraz. This is a good three-way battle, though more like a two-way battle right now. |
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Jordan Parraz, OF | He's making the backup outfield choice an interesting one for the Braves. He's hit as well as Durango all spring, and seems to offer a more complete offensive package. Between him and Durango it should be a tough choice. |
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Tyler Pastornicky, SS | Hitting better of late, and he seems to have gotten over the early spring jitters (he was really nervous at the start of spring). We'll see what he does the next two weeks, but a strong showing at the plate and in the field will keep him in the starting shortstop role. If Jack Wilson comes back to start the year, that should take a lot of the pressure off of Pastornicky. |
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Andrelton Simmons, SS | His defense is still there, but his hitting is coming back down to earth (ah, spring training sample sizes). There seems to be some internal disagreement on the Braves about who to take North as the starting shortstop, with the dugout opting for Simmons' defense, and the front office opting for Pastornicky's track record. I bet the front office wins. |
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Drew Sutton, IF | Pretty much still on track to be the super-utility guy. It will be interesting to see how the Braves construct the bench if Jack Wilson is healthy. Sutton's ability to play some outfield in a pinch only helps his chances of making the team. |
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Josh Wilson, IF | He's been on the shelf with a strained hammy. At this point I'd say it's far fetched that he would make the team. Though he's good depth at triple-A. |