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October 29, 2004
AFL, Winter Leagues update
Peoria Saguaros 3, Grand Canyon Rafters 6 (10/27)
Zach Miner worked four solid innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits, a walk, and three strikeouts to pick up the win, as the Rafters handle the Saguaros 6-3. 1B Scott Thorman was 2-for-4 with his first double of the fall and a run scored, and 2B Aaron Herr was 2-for-3, also with his first double and a run scored. RF Jeff Francoeur and C Brian McCann combined to go 0-for-8 with three strikeouts, two by Francoeur. Miner moves to 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA for the AFL season.
The game for Thursday, 10/28 was rained out.
AFL stats (through games of 10/27):
Hitters
Jeff Francoeur -- .327/.351/.418 (18-for-55), 5 2B, 8 RBI, 13 SO, 1 BB
Aaron Herr -- .207/.233/.241 (6-for-29), 2B, 5 SO, 1 BB
Brian McCann -- .276/.300/.379 (8-for-29), 3 2B, 2 RBI, 6 SO, BB
Tony Pena -- .350/.381/.450 (14-for-40), 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 5 SO, 2 BB
Scott Thorman -- .241/.290/.276 (7-for-29), 2B, 3 RBI, 8 SO, 2 BB
Pitchers
Matt Coenen -- 0-3, 10.00 ERA, 9 IP, 14 H, 5 SO, 2 BB
Macay McBride -- 0-0, 5.87 ERA, 15 1/3 IP, 23 H, 18 SO, 4 BB
Zach Miner -- 2-1, 5.06 ERA, 16 IP, 11 H, 17 SO, 4 BB
Venezuelan Winter League stats (through games of 10/28):
Hitters
Gregor Blanco -- .161 (5-for-31), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 11 SO, BB
J.C. Boscan -- .433 (13-for-30), 3 RBI, 4 SO, BB
Carlos Duran -- .286 (4-for-14), RBI, 2 SO, BB
James Jurries -- .154 (6-for-39), 3 RBI, 13 SO, 5 BB
Billy McCarthy -- .250 (7-for-28), HR, 6 RBI, 10 SO, 3 BB
Jackson Melian -- .571 (8-for-14, 2 RBI, SO, BB
Pete Orr -- .228 (13-for-57), 8 RBI, 11 SO, 5 BB
Jorge Velandia -- .156 (5-for-32), 5 RBI, 12 SO, 7 BB
Pitchers
Kevin Barry -- 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 SO, 0 BB, 1.59 ERA
Buddy Hernandez --5 IP, 5 H, SO, 0 BB, 1.80 ERA
Slow going for the hitters so far in Venezuela, with only Boscan and Melian swinging a decent stick. New arrivals Barry and Hernandez are performing well on the mound though. And for old times sake, former Braves minor leaguer Travis Wilson is hitting a smooth .209 (9-for-43) with 16 strikeouts and no walks. Some people just never learn.
Dominican Winter League stats (through games of 10/28):
Hitters
Miguel Bernard -- .111/.200 (1-for-9), 2 SO, BB
Wilson Betemit -- .235/.278 (4-for-17), 2B, 2 RBI, 5 SO, BB
Nick Green -- .316/.381 (6-for-19), 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 7 SO
Damon Hollins -- .211/.286 (4-for-19), 2 2B, 6 SO, 2 BB
Andy Marte -- .273/.333 (6-for-22), 3 2B, 4 RBI, 8 SO, 2 BB
Brayan Pena -- .143/.250 (2-for-14), 2B, RBI, SO, 2 BB
Adam Stern -- .238/.273 (5-for-21), 2 2B, 3B, RBI, 6 SO, BB, SB
Pitchers
Dan Curtis -- 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 3 IP, 2 H, 2 SO, BB
Not much good going on at the plate in the Dominican either, outside of Marte and Green. On the pitching side of the ledger, look for additional Braves players to show up in the next few weeks.
Mexican-Pacific League stats (through games of 10/28):
Pitchers
Isauro Pineda -- 1-0, 3.24 ERA, 8 1/3 IP, 9 H, 12 SO, 4 BB
Baseball America has released the Six-Year minor league free agent list, with the following Braves players granted free agency:
2B Brent Butler
OF Napoleon Calzado
P Dan Curtis
C Joe Depastino
P Jamie Emiliano
C Lee Evans
P Sean Fesh
P Rolando Garza
SS Isaac Iorg
P Brian Langen
P Derrick Lewis
1B Luis Lopez
P Sam McConnell
OF Jackson Melian
P Brian Moehler
C Dave Nilsson
P Isauro Pineda
P Mike Romano
C Ray Serrano
SS Jorge Velandia
SS Juan Velazquez
P Matt Whiteside
I imagine that several of these players will resign with the Braves over the winter, and we will also bring in a new crop of minor league FA's as well. If any of the players on the list are playing winter ball (like Melian, Pineda, and Velandia), I will keep updating their stats until they sign with another organization.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 08:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 24, 2004
Peoria Javelinas 4, Grand Canyon Rafters 2
1B Scott Thorman was 2-for-3 and SS Tony Pena was 2-for-4 with a run scored, but the Rafters couldn't get much done against Javelinas pitching, eventually losing 4-2 in Saturday's AFL action. RF Jeff Francoeur was 1-for-4 and is now hitting .348 for the fall. 2B Aaron Herr also went 1-for-4.
On that note, I'm heading out of town again for a week to Atlanta, with little or no access to the internet. I will be back next weekend and will get up to date on all of the AFL and winter league happenings at that time.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 04:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 23, 2004
Grand Canyon Rafters 18, Peoria Javelinas 7
SS Tony Pena Jr. was 4-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored, and C Brian McCann was 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, and three runs scored, as Grand Canyon lays the smack down on Peoria 18-7. Zach Miner fanned four and walked none in 1 2/3 innings, but did give up two runs on two hits, including a homer. Matt Coenen seems to be finding a groove, giving up two hits in 1 1/3 shutout innings.
On the flip side, former Braves prospect Brett Evert keeps getting shelled for Peoria, giving up three runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Mark Bowman from MLB.com takes a closer look at the Braves prospects playing in the AFL. A few notes:
Through his first 10 games in the AFL, Francoeur was hitting .333 (13-for-39) and had a .413 slugging percentage. Had he not suffered a broken right cheekbone when he was hit with a pitch on July 8, the athletic 20-year-old outfielder might have had an even greater chance to win a spot on the Atlanta roster in Spring Training.......As of Thursday, McCann was hitting .333 (5-for-15) with the Rafters. With Johnny Estrada and Eddie Perez set to return to Atlanta next year, the talented young catcher may have to wait until 2006 to make his Major League debut.......Many of the Braves' Major League coaches were so impressed with Pena during Spring Training last year that they came away believing he's ready for a shot at the Majors. If Atlanta chooses to part ways with Rafael Furcal, Pena will be given a shot to win the shortstop job or one as a utility player.The Sports Network has posted their Carolina League and Southern League final reports.
JC from Sabernomics begins his Braves season in review with a good look at how Adam LaRoche fared in his rookie campaign.
The Rome Braves Blog revisits the 1950 Rome Red Sox from the old Georgia-Alabama league.
Also be sure to check out the new location of Balls, Sticks, and Stuff, one of my new favorite stops on the web. Looks great Tom!
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 03:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 21, 2004
R-Braves staying put
For at least two more seasons. From the AJC:
The Braves' Class AAA team will remain in Richmond for at least the next two seasons after $500,000 was approved to fix the playing surface at The Diamond.The Richmond Metropolitan Authority wanted a ten-year agreement, but are content with two plus an option for right now:The new lease agreement also calls for an option on a third season. Meanwhile, the Braves will continue to explore the possibility of a new stadium in Richmond.
The R-Braves couldn't play at The Diamond for most of August because of drainage problems and all the games in the International League championship series were played in Buffalo.
The field upgrade includes removing the sod, regrading the subsoil, installing new irrigation and drainage systems, regrading and putting in new sod.
"We're in a Catch-22 situation," he said. "We have to do something to keep the Braves here. We have to do something for the baseball public. This was a price worth paying."It's good to see Richmond do what it needs to do to keep the team in town, unlike here in Macon a few years back when we lost the Braves Low-A team to Rome.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 09:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Grand Canyon Rafters 8, Peoria Saguaros 4
RF Jeff Francoeur was 2-for-3 with his fourth double of the season, and also drove in a run and scored a run, as the Rafters double up the Saguaros 8-4. 1B Scott Thorman was 1-for-5 with a run scored and two strikeouts, and 2B Aaron Herr was 0-for-5 with a K.
Notes -- The prolific Bryan Smith from Wait Til Next Year has a new Arizona Fall League article posted which takes a closer look at reasons why certain players were sent to the league from their respective organizations, Braves included.
I've been meaning to post this for days, but it keeps slipping my mind. MILB.com has posted the final organizational standings of the year based on Win-Loss record. The Atlanta Braves organization finished tenth with a 351-332 combined minor league record (.514 pct.). Oakland topped the list at 400-295 (.576), followed closely by Toronto at 400-299 (.572). Montreal Washington brought up the rear, posting a 288-392 record (.424). Talk about a franchise that needs to be rebuilt in more ways than one.
The Sports Network has started posting its final reports for each of the minor league circuits. So far, Rome and Danville have gotten their due, with the rest to come shortly. If you are a regular reader of No Pepper, there isn't much new information to peruse, but it does serve as a good primer for those who may be less familiar with some of the top performers in the Braves minor league organization this past season.....
ROME BRAVES - Rome needed to win the second half to earn a postseason bid, but 40 wins weren't enough, and their year ended with a total record of 70-70. The Braves were led by All-Star second baseman Martin Prado, and by the league's Most Outstanding Pitcher, Chuck James. Prado combined a .315 average with some nice glove work in the field to earn the All-Star nod. Matt Esquivel and Carlos Guzman also put up some solid numbers. Esquivel hit .285 with 16 homers and 64 RBI, while Guzman added 13 long balls and 52 RBI. James' numbers on the hill show why he was chosen as the best pitcher in the league. He went 10-5 and finished second in the league with a 2.24 ERA. He also finished second in the league with 156 strikeouts, and held opponents to a .185 batting average. Jacob Stevens wasn't much of a drop off from James, as he finished third in the league with a 2.27 ERA. He struck out 140.And finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that today marks the one year anniversary of Elliott Smith's (questionable) suicide. Frank from Chromewaves recalls that day, and also links to a San Francisco Bay-Guardian article on his final album release and wonders if it is the album that Elliott had intended it to be.DANVILLE BRAVES - The 2004 East Division Champions fell a game short of winning the Appalachian League Crown. After winning game one of their three game set with the Greeneville Astros, the Braves gave up two runs in the ninth inning of game two and lost 3-2. They then dropped game three in ten innings by the score of 2-1. Catcher Cole Armstrong, 2B JC Holt and OF Carl Loadenthal were all named to the 2004 Post Season All Star Team. Mark Jurich (27) and Van Pope (25) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in extra-base hits, while Brandon Jones was tied for second in triples with five. Starter Chris Vines compiled a 3.28 ERA in his 60 1/3rd innings of work, finished fourth in the league with six wins, and struck out 72 batters which was good for second overall. The Braves also led the league in hitting with a .276 average as a team.
Smith left us at the all too young age of 34. Rest in peace Elliott.
Elliott Smith 1969-2003
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 11:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 20, 2004
Mesa Solar Sox 2, Grand Canyon Rafters 7
Doubles were wild as RF Jeff Francoeur, C Brian McCann, and SS Tony Pena each hit one for the Rafters as they knock off the Solar Sox 7-2 in Tuesday's AFL action. McCann was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and Pena added two runs scored on a 2-for-3 day with a walk. Francoeur was 1-for-3 and scored a run.
As a team, the Rafters have a 4-7 record, three games behind the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the National Division.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 01:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 19, 2004
AFL/Winter League update
10/16 game -- Grand Canyon Rafters 3, Phoenix Desert Dogs 4
1B Scott Thorman and SS Tony Pena combined to go 0-for-8 in the Rafters 4-3 loss to the Desert Dogs.
10/18 game -- Grand Canyon Rafters 2, Mesa Solar Sox 6
Macay McBride went four innings in the start for the Rafters, allowing two runs on four hits, a walk, and five strikeouts as Grand Canyon falls to Mesa 6-2. Zach Miner also saw time on the hill, giving up two runs on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout in two innings to take the loss, dropping him to 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA in the AFL. Matt Coenen gave up a hit and struck out one in 1/3 of an inning. At the plate, RF Jeff Francoeur was 0-for-4 and fanned three times.
For Mesa, former Braves prospect Adam Wainwright was looking healthy, tossing four shutout innings in the start, striking out five.
Braves AFL stats through 10/18:
Jeff Francoeur -- .333/.368/.389 (12-for-36), 2 2B, 1 BB, 9 SO
Aaron Herr -- .176/.222/.176 (3-for-17), BB, 2 SO
Brian McCann -- .273/.273/.364 (3-for-11), 2B, 3 SO
Tony Pena -- .208/.208/.333 (5-for-24), 2B, 3B, 3 SO
Scott Thorman -- .118/.167/.118 (2-for-17), BB, 5 SO
Matt Coenen -- 0-2, 5.14 ERA, 7 IP, 8 H, BB, 5 SO
Macay McBride -- 0-0, 7.15 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 17 H, 4 BB, 12 SO
Zach Miner -- 1-1, 5.23 ERA, 10.1 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 10 SO
Winter League Update -- Add Pete Orr and Jackson Melian to the list of Braves minor leaguers playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Here are the complete stats through 10/17:
Gregor Blanco -- .250 (3-for-12), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 SO
JC Boscan -- .625 (5-8), RBI, BB, 2 SO
Carlos Duran -- .286 (2-for-7), BB, SO
James Jurries -- .250 (2-for-8), 2 2B, SO
Billy McCarthy -- .222 (2-for-9), RBI, BB, 2 SO
Jackson Melian -- .571 (8-for-14), 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SO
Pete Orr -- .333 (6-for-18), 2 2B, 7 RBI, BB, 4 SO
Jorge Velandia -- .143 (1-for-7), 2B, BB, 3 SO
Mexican-Pacific League
Isauro Pineda -- 0-0, 7.71 ERA, 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 SO
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 09:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 16, 2004
Owings arrested
Braves minor league outfielder Jon Mark Owings was arrested last weekend and charged with obstruction of justice and underage possession of alcohol stemming from an incident at North Georgia College & State University.
The 2004 17th round draft pick had a rough summer in the Gulf Coast League, hitting just .226 with three homers (two in the same game) and seven RBI before rupturing his spleen when crashing into a fence chasing a foul ball. Owings had emergency surgery to remove the spleen, and was set to start working out again next week to get ready for spring training.
The Braves organization expects big things from Owings, as witnessed by the "fourth or fifth round money" they threw his way to get him to back out of his commitment to Clemson. Hopefully he will get healthy for 2005 and put this incident behind him.
(Thanks to Merv on the message board for the article links)
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 05:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 15, 2004
Scores, news, and notes
AFL, 10/13 game -- Grand Canyon Rafters 3, Scottsdale Scorpions 8
Quiet day for the Braves prospects in Arizona, with only C Brian McCann (1-for-4, SO) and SS Tony Pena (0-for-4, RBI, E) seeing action in the Rafters 8-3 loss to the Scorpions.
AFL, 10/14 game -- Scottsdale Scorpions 5, Grand Canyon Rafters 4
Matt Coenen was on the hook for the loss, allowing one run on one hit and two strikeouts in two innings as the Rafters fall to the Scorpions 5-4. RF Jeff Francoeur was the only Braves prospect to see time in the field, producing a 1-for-4 day with a strikeout. Coenen falls to 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA with the loss.
Transactions -- From ESPN.com: Sent outright pitchers Tim Drew and Travis Smith to Richmond of the International League (AAA); activated infielder Carlos Guzman from the 15-day disabled list and released him. Also, the Detroit Tigers claimed outfielder Dewayne Wise off of waivers.
Notes -- The Venezuelan Winter League got underway yesterday, and the league homepage has already exceeded it's bandwidth, so I'll have to check back later to peruse all of the rosters. I did find out that a slew of Braves are playing for Los Tiburones de la Guaira - Jorge Velandia, James Jurries, Gregor Blanco, Carlos Duran, and Billy McCarthy. In their first game, Duran committed an error, and Blanco, or "White Gregor" as my Babelfish translator likes to describe him, cranked a jonron. That's about all I could get from the game recap - stats and box scores are few and far between at this point. I also saw that J.C. Boscan is playing for Los Cardenales de Lara in the same league.
In blogger news, Bryan Smith has a few Braves minor league notes in his Rookies of 2005 article, and also in his Armchair GM Friday post from today. Chipper Jones to the A's? Check out what Bryan has to say.
Also, the is a new Braves blog on the block called, interestingly enough, Braves Blog. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Chase.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 06:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 13, 2004
AFL notes, Winter Leagues underway
AFL, 10/12 game:
Peoria Saguaros 4, Grand Canyon Rafters 8
Macay McBride worked four innings in the start, allowing two runs on four hits, a walk, and four strikeouts, and Zach Miner followed with three innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits, a walk, and two strikeouts, as the Rafters knock off the Saguaros 8-4. SS Tony Pena was 1-for-4 with a triple, RBI, and a run scored. RF Jeff Francoeur was 1-for-3 with a run, but also struck out twice. Miner picked up the win, moving him to 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in the early stages of the AFL.
AFL, 10/11 game:
Grand Canyon Rafters 3, Peoria Saguaros 3, 11 innings
Both Jeff Francoeur and Aaron Herr were 1-for-4, and Scott Thorman was 0-for-3 but did score a run, as the Rafters and Saguaros play to a 3-3 tie in 11 innings. Matt Coenen had a solid relief appearance, allowing two hits in two shutout innings.
Notes -- Baseball America listed the top college recruiting classes recently, with a couple of the Braves 2004 draft picks getting mentioned as key recruits. 18th rounder 2B/3B Brad Emaus is part of the 4th ranked Tulane recruiting class, and 23rd rounder RHP Austin Hyatt joins up with the 10th ranked class at Alabama.
The Mexican-Pacific league is now underway, the first of several winter leagues to begin play this year. Looking over the rosters, I see Isauro Pineda (Mayos de Navora) as the only Braves player in the league. Chuck Smith is there, but was just released, so he is looking to latch on with another organization. I will be keeping up to date with all of the Braves players in the various leagues all winter, so if you see anyone I have left out when I do the updates please let me know.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 09:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 12, 2004
Congratulations Atlanta Braves
As disappointing and disheartening last night's 12-3 loss to the Astros was, it's hard not to be pleased with the 2004 season for the Atlanta Braves. According to the experts before the season started, this was a middle of the pack team who would have a tough time fending off division rivals Philadelphia and Florida. Well, the Braves proved EVERYBODY wrong in winning the NL East and making the postseason for the 13th straight year. That is a successful season in my book.
One note for 2005: Jose Capellan and Dan Meyer > Chris Reitsma and Tom Martin. Get that crap off of our team this offseason Schuerholz.
Transactions -- According to Baseball America, C J.C. Boscan has been signed (I'm not exactly sure what that means), and RHP Chuck Smith has been released from the organization.
Notes -- Additional (and belated!) congratulations are in order for fellow blogger Jeremy Deloney from Baseball Miscellany and Minor Details, who will now be plying his trade for BaseballHQ.com. Keep up the excellent work Jeremy!
Another one of my favorite bloggers, Bryan Smith from Wait Til Next Year recently reviewed some of the top catchers in the minor leagues this past season, Brian McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia included. Look for his Rookies of 2005 preview for the National League later this week - I have a feeling several Braves will be mentioned.
Jay Del Mah has posted Bob Reed's Big 60 over on his Rookie Reports page, and overall, I think it is a solid list. Five Braves prospects make the list: #7 Andy Marte, #29 Jake Stevens, #31 Jeff Francoeur, #42 Brian McCann, and #45 Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 07:58 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 10, 2004
Mesa Solar Sox 2, Grand Canyon Rafters 8
1B Scott Thorman was 1-for-4 with two RBI, and RF Jeff Francoeur was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored, as the Rafters knock off the Solar Sox 8-2. C Brian McCann was a late defensive replacement, but didn't get a chance at the plate. Matt Coenen tossed a perfect inning of relief, striking out one in the process.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 06:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 09, 2004
Can you pack a rake on an airplane?
Because Jeff Francoeur made sure to bring his to Arizona. The Braves prized outfield prospect is off to a hot start in the AFL, hitting .500 (7-for-14) with a double and four RBI in his first three games for the Grand Canyon Rafters.
Here is a look at how the rest of the Braves contingent is faring three games into the season:
2B Aaron Herr -- .200 (2-for-10)
C Brian McCann -- .250 (1-for-4)
SS Tony Pena -- .333 (4-for-12), 2B, RBI
1B Scott Thorman -- .167 (1-for-6)
P Matt Coenen -- 0-1, 16.20 ERA, 1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, SO
P Macay McBride -- 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 3 1/3 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
P Zach Miner -- 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 SO
Now that I am back in town, I will try to have daily recaps of the Rafters games, pending the availability of the box scores of course.
While I was out...
Baseball America wrapped up it's end of season Top 20 Prospects lists, including the Southern and International Leagues.
Greenville landed four players on the Southern League list, including three of the top ten. 3B Andy Marte lead the way as the top prospect on the circuit, followed by P Jose Capellan at #5, P Kyle Davies at #8, and P Dan Meyer at #15. A few notes on the players:
Andy Marte...Meyer also made an appearance at #8 on the International League list - the only appearance by any Richmond player:
Marte will be an above-average hitter with power that could be well above average, and he already can drive the ball to the opposite field. He has a bit of an uppercut in his swing and will have to level it out. He shows good pitch recognition, though he still strikes out too much.Jose Capellan...
Some who saw Capellan pitch in 2003 were impressed with how much his feel for pitching improved and expect him to succeed as a starter. Others envision him as a closer if he doesn't refine his changeup and his command.Kyle Davies...
Davies took off last year once he adjusted his delivery and improved his fastball significantly. He threw at 88-93 mph this year, and his command makes his fastball a plus pitch. He throws a 12-to-5 curveball with rotation and bite, and his changeup is solid average.Dan Meyer...
Meyer shows good stuff, with a low-90s fastball, plus slider and improving changeup. But he impresses more with his composure and command. He doesn't issue many walks and he also doesn't give hitters many solid swings. Though he pitched in relief in the majors, he projects as a solid No. 3 starter.
There was some debate as to which Braves lefthander had the higher ceiling, Meyer or fellow first-round pick Macay McBride. While McBride struggled and moved to the bullpen this year in Double-A, Meyer dominated at that level and didn't miss a beat after coming to the IL."He's a big-game pitcher," Richmond manager Pat Kelly said. "He pitches every game with that same level of intensity--as if it was the last game of the season with it all on the line."
Dayn Perry of FoxSports.com is also on board with Marte and Meyer, naming them as NL rookies to watch in 2005:
Andy Marte, 3B, BravesNow that David Wright and B.J. Upton have exhausted their prospect status, Marte stands alone as the best prospect in baseball. Marte will provide solid defense at the hot corner, but it's his bat that will make him a star. Despite being significantly younger than his peer group at every level, Marte has done nothing but hit since his first taste of full-season ball back in 2002. He boasts excellent plate discipline and tremendous raw power. This past season at AA-Greenville, he was good for 23 homers and 58 walks despite being only 20 years of age. Although he'll likely start 2005 in Triple-A, don't be surprised if the Braves give him an early call-up and shift Chipper Jones across the diamond to first. In his prime, Marte will perform at an MVP level.
Dan Meyer, LHP, Braves
Meyer, the 34th overall pick of the 2002 draft out of James Madison, isn't a name you hear as much as others, but he's one of the best pitching prospects in the game. Armed with astounding command and good movement on all his pitches, Meyer has thrived at every stop, including a strong 61.1 innings at AAA-Richmond this past season. With Russ Ortiz, Paul Byrd and Jaret Wright all headed for free agency, Meyer will have a shot to be in the rotation on opening day. Under the tutelage of the inestimable Leo Mazzone, he should thrive.
The Richmond Braves, and the entire Braves organization for that matter, lost one of their top pitching coaches last week to the Kansas City Royals. Guy Hansen hopes the third time will be the charm for him and the Royals, where he was the pitching coach from 1991-93 and the bullpen coach from 1996-97. Best wishes to Guy and the Royals.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 08:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 03, 2004
AFL set to start
There hasn't been much minor league news to speak of recently, but the always exciting Arizona Fall League gets cranked up on Tuesday. Baseball America has the updated rosters right here, with the only change for the Braves being the addition of lhp Matt Coenen.
I will be providing daily recaps of the Grand Canyon Rafters squad, which is who the Braves prospects will be playing for. The only catch at the moment is that I am going to be out of town all next week without internet access, so I will miss the first three games on the schedule, but I will quickly get up to date when I return on Saturday.
Have a great week, and good luck to the big club in the NLDS!
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 10:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 01, 2004
NLDS Game 2 Tickets Available
Cubs blogger Joe Aiello from The View From The Bleachers has two tickets available for Game 2 of the NLDS now that it looks like his Cubbies will not be playing the Braves. Here is the info:
Can you do me a HUGE favor? I bought 2 playoff tickets for game 2 in ATL that I wanna get rid of. I bought them because I thought the Cubs wouldn't suck and would be playing the Braves again. Can you please please please advertise that I have the tickets avail for someone to purchase?If interested, you can email Joe at joe@viewfromthebleachers.com.
Details of the Tickets:
Game 2
Section: 135
Row 27
Seats 101 & 102
Price: $18 a piece + shipping
Just have people e-mail me ASAP via e-mail. Also, if you know anyone who may want them, please have them contact me.
Posted by Brad Dowdy at 07:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack