Atlanta Braves Clippings Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Braves.Com
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Atlanta Braves Clippings Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Braves.com Inbox: How much should Braves read into early success? Beat reporter Mark Bowman fields questions from Atlanta fans By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | April 20, 2015 Should we increase expectations for the Braves after the first two weeks? Or is this just a peak in a season that will have many valleys? -- Eric S., Gilbertville, Iowa It is never wise to put much stock in results compiled within a small sample size against a select group of competition. But if nothing else, this season's first two weeks have provided some indication that this club is capable of producing more offensive excitement than most had predicted. Still, before allowing yourself to be fooled by the nine homers totaled over the past five games, remember this lineup's DNA indicates this will be a team that needs to consistently manufacture runs. Thus, you can either be concerned that the top two spots in Atlanta's batting order have produced a .163 batting average and a .219 on-base percentage. Or you can be encouraged by the fact that the Braves have managed to collect eight wins despite getting little production from the top of the lineup. Fortunately, the schedule has allowed either Julio Teheran, Alex Wood orShelby Miller to start nine of the season's first 12 games, though Eric Stultsand Trevor Cahill are tabbed to start the first two games of this week's series against the first-place Mets. Stults is capable of being an effective fifth starter, but it is not exactly comforting to pair him in the same rotation as Cahill, whose presence might further tax an already-thin bullpen that has compiled more innings than every National League club other than the Marlins and Giants. With Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz waiting in the wings with Triple-A Gwinnett, the Braves have some internal options to aid either their rotation or bullpen. Atlanta's roster versatility provides manager Fredi Gonzalez options to continue tinkering with his lineup in an attempt to continue generating consistent offensive success. It is far too early to be overly excited by the results or dismayed by trends. But through this season's first two weeks, the Braves have at least provided some indication that there could be more excitement than many have anticipated seeing at Turner Field this summer. With the shedding of future dollars and Dan Uggla's burdensome contract expiring at the end of the year, what are the Braves going to do with this money prior to 2017? -- Jeremy J., Forest City, N.C. How important was it to get rid of Melvin Upton Jr.'s contract at the expense of Craig Kimbrel? Even without its financial commitment to Upton, Atlanta is already committed to pay $68.05 million to seven players in 2017, and this does not account for the salaries Miller and Wood could gain that year. It is often said you can never have enough pitching, but given all of pitching prospects acquired over the past few months, it seems safe to assume a significant focus will be placed on finding outfielders. If Mallex Smith's early-season success with Double-A Mississippi is indicative of what he might do over the next couple months, he might be just a year away from becoming Atlanta's center fielder. But with Braxton Davidson still in the early stages of his pro career, the Braves will likely use some of their available funds on a power-hitting outfielder who could fill the left-field spot the next couple seasons. With the emergence of Jace Peterson, does that make Jose Peraza expendable? Or do you see Peterson shifting to third base upon Peraza's promotion to the big league roster? -- Asa P., St. Paul, Minn. Because of his athleticism, versatility and speed, Peterson is a nice player to have on your roster. But his presence should not in any way influence the long-term plans for Peraza, who has the potential to be an impact player on Atlanta's roster. Looking ahead to future seasons, it seems more likely that Peterson could serve as a utility player, while Peraza is positioned at second base and Rio Ruiz at third base. How impressive does Mike Minor need to be once he comes back from shoulder discomfort (again) to provide a decent trade value? -- Brad C., Atlanta Given that his left shoulder has been an issue for more than a year now and there is no indication of when it might prove healthy enough for him to pitch again, Minor will need to display reliability and durability over an extended stretch before another club would be willing to provide much in return. Though the latest setback fueled doubts, the Braves have no choice but to maintain hope that he can provide at least some value later this year. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Braves’ reps meet with Palm Beach County about spring training By Tim Tucker - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Braves’ search for a new spring-training home in Florida has taken them back to their past. Real-estate consultants representing the Braves recently met with officials in Palm Beach County, where the team trained from 1962 until leaving for Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando in 1998. While there is no indication at this point that the Braves would be able to make a deal to return their spring-training camp to Palm Beach County, the meeting with officials there — first reported by the Palm Beach Post — underscores the team’s commitment to searching both the east and west coasts of Florida for a possible new spring home. The team’s lease with Disney expires after two more years. The Braves have engaged commercial real-estate services firm JLL — the same firm working with the team on its new stadium and mixed-use development in Cobb County — to “assist us (with) site finding in Florida,” Braves president John Schuerholz said. “They have talked to a number of communities to find out what the level of interest is or might be,” Schuerholz said. “… They visited not only Palm Beach County but several other counties as well.” Please see MyAJC.com later today or Wednesday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more on this story. Prospect Primer: Weekly look at Braves’ top minor-leaguers By Carroll Rogers - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Matt Wisler, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett Ranking: Braves’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America Wisler got a little fastball-happy in his second start for Gwinnett, allowing three runs in a 30-pitch second inning against the Charlotte Knights. He got more comfortable with his off-speed pitches as the game went on and would have allowed only one more run if not for an error in right field that cost him two unearned runs. Wisler is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in two starts for Gwinnett. Jose Peraza, 2B, Triple-A Gwinnett Ranking: Braves’ No. 2 prospect by Baseball America Peraza had the kind of up-and-down week you might expect from a 20-year-old playing in Triple-A, not to mention one whose name was mentioned in trade rumors — though Braves sources have indicated they don’t intend to trade him. One night Peraza was lining a triple to right center field off Carlos Rodon — who was called up to the White Sox a few days later — and the next he was striking out three times in four at-bats. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett Ranking: Braves’ No. 3 prospect by Baseball America Foltynewicz acknowledges he was too eager to impress in spring training, playing for a new organization after coming over from Houston in the Evan Gattis trade. He’s working on a few adjustments pitching coach Roger McDowell gave him to focus on at the end of spring training and has seen some fruits of his work: allowing only two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts. Rio Ruiz, 3B, Double-A Mississippi Ranking: Braves’ No. 11 prospect by Baseball America Ruiz is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch in the right knee on Friday night, but it’s not considered serious. He collected his first three-hit game of the young season two days earlier on April 15 against Jackson, going 3-for-5 with a double. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Double-A Mississippi Ranking: Braves’ No. 13 prospect by Baseball America After some shoddy defense cost Jenkins five unearned runs in his debut for Mississippi, he had some rough luck again his next time out. Jenkins gave up five runs — this time in six innings of work — and only two of them were earned. A Daniel Castro throwing error in the sixth allowed one run to score and kept the inning alive for Gabby Guerrero (nephew of former All-Star Vladimir Guerrero), who followed with a two-run homer off Jenkins. Manny Banuelos, LHP, Triple-A Gwinnett Ranking: No. 14 prospect by Baseball America Banuelos not only showed better command in his second start for Gwinnett, he struck out seven batters in five innings, while allowing only one run against Charlotte. The seven strikeouts was his highest total since Banuelos struck out seven for Scranton Wilkes-Barre — the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate — on May 13, 2012. That was his second-to-last start of that season before he was shut down and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery. Ozhaino Albies, SS, low Single-A Rome Braves Ranking: No. 8 prospect by Baseball America The 18-year-old switch-hitting native of Curacao is playing his first full season of professional baseball and just beginning to find some rhythm at the plate.