MINORS FINAL 8/20: How JoeyT is wiping out a turd of a season; GCL one-hitter!

[rico43]

It has been a maddingly (not Mattingly) up-and-down season for Joey Hands, aka JoeT or as our board likes to call him Joe Terd. But all you need to know about it can be revealed in the splits. So close, then so far away.


April: 2-10-.330 and six doubles his trademark

May: 1-7-.188 but eight douibles

June: 3-10-.200 but only one double

July: 2-14-.303, but again only one double

August: 5-10-.240, one double.

BUT considering that he has homered now in three (FLASH: make that FOUR!) straight games, a strong finish to the month could allow for the switch-hitter to earn a September callup. Then, a good month might wind up meaning a MLB bench job in 2015. No matter how you slice it, the future is right damn now for Joey T.
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A near-no-hitter for one of the Braves less heralded young arms, right-hander Francisco Gonzalez, 19, pitching for the Gulf Coast Braves, took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in their game today (Wednesday). He walked only one and struck out three before allow a one-out single. He came out of the 2-0 game with two on and two out, allowing only the one hit. Jordan Sechler struck out three in 1.1 innings to lock down his fourth save.

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WEDNESDAY BOXES LINK (http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=144&ymd=20140820)
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CLASS AAA

Gwinnett 16, Charlotte 2

9-run 8th. ATL could used a couple those.
WP: Doyle (3-3) 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Terdoslavich 3-5, 3 R, HR (12th), 2 RBIs.
Salcedo 2-3, HR (9th), 2 RBIs.
Kazmar 3-5, 2B, R, RBI.
Constanza 1-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB.
D. Murphy 2-6, 2 R, 2B, HR (3rd), 5 RBIs.
Boggs 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBIs.

CLASS AA

Mississippi 6, Mobile 2

*See below
WP: Joe Gardner* (2-2 overall) 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.
Wren 4-5, R, RBI, SB. (.255)
Kubitza 2-5, 2 RBIs.
Kleinknecht 2-5, HR (8th), 2 RBIs.
Gardner* 1-2, RBI.
D. Castro 1-4, R.

ADVANCED CLASS A

Game One
Potomac 8, Lynchburg 1 (7)

LP: Parsons (4-6) 4 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR.
Skinner 1-3, 2B, RBI.
Bloxom 1-3, 2B, R.

Game Two
Potomac 3, Lynchburg 0 (7)

LP: L, Sims (7-10) 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
Martinez 3-3, 2B. (.329)
Tewell 1-3.
(Only 4 hits)

CLASS A

Rome 6, Savannah 3

SP: Gil 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
WP: Otero (3-4) 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
Dirks (Save, 3) 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K.
Lien 2-3, 2B, R, RBI, 2 SB.
Godfrey 1-4, RBI.
Schrader 1-4.
Oliver 2-4, 2 RBIs.
Meneses 0-4.
C. Franco 2-3, 2 R.

SHORT-SEASON

GCL Braves 4, GCL Phillies 0

SP: F. Gonzalez 7.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Sechler (Save, 4) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
J.J. Franco 2-4, RBI. (.365)
Didder 2-4, R.
Mendez 3-4, 2B, R, SB.
Obrochta 1-2, 2 RBIs, 2 SF.
Gaylor 0-4.
Dykstra 0-3.
Bello 1-3.

DSL Tigers 7, DSL Braves 3

LP: Mora (0-5) 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
Barrios 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
Castro 1-3, 2B, R, RBI, SB.
Willems 1-3, R, RBI.
Arias 1-4, SB.

Danville, idle.

***INDY SIGNING

Right-handed pitcher Joe Gardner has been signed Tuesday by the Atlanta Braves organization, it was announced today by manager Butch Hobson. He has been assigned to Class AA Mississippi in the Southern League. Gardner, 26, leaves Lancaster for the second time. The California native joined the Barnstormers for one start in mid-May and threw five shutout innings at Southern Maryland. Following that effort, his contract was purchased by the Chicago Cubs, and the right-hander went 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA over seven starts with Class AA Tennessee.

The former third round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians returned to Lancaster prior to the All-Star break and compiled an overall record of 3-2 with a 2.51 ERA in seven starts and one relief outing with the Barnstormers. Gardner is in his fifth professional season after pitching collegiate baseball at UC-Santa Barbara.

“We’re happy for him,” said manager Butch Hobson. “Hopefully, this will be his route to get to AAA and even the big leagues.”

OTHER MOVES: M-Braves place Ryan Weber (elbow) on the DL; activates Seth Loman from DL.
Lynchburg places Cody Scarpatta on DL, activate Alex Wilson.

[50PoundHead]

Francisco Gonzalez took a no-hitter into the 8th inning down in the GCL. He left after giving up a hit and a runner reaching on a fielder's choice. Jordan Sechler (#19, 2013) finished up strong, striking out 3. Have to give the GCL team some credit. They are back to .500 after starting off slowly.

[rico43]

Francisco Gonzalez took a no-hitter into the 8th inning down in the GCL. He left after giving up a hit and a runner reaching on a fielder's choice. Jordan Sechler (#19, 2013) finished up strong, striking out 3. Have to give the GCL team some credit. They are back to .500 after starting off slowly.

Way to anticipate my next topic! GCL Braves have won eight of 10 and are at .500 for the first time all season.

In sharp contrast, the DSL team was 17-9 at the end of June and has gone 12-30 since.

[thethe]

Lien is a huge boom bust prospect going into next year. He has quietly had a solid season as a 20 year old in Rome.

[KB21]

I've been critical of the Braves drafting approach due to the fact that they have been taking so many college players recently rather than the high upside high school kids, but it is hard to argue with results. While we may not have many high end prospects, we do have a lot of solid B and C level prospects in the system. Tony DeMacio's first draft as the Director of Scouting for the Braves was in 2010 and produced Andrelton Simmons, Phil Gosselin, and Evan Gattis already, and you can make a case that Todd Cunningham, Joey Terdoslavich, and Chasen Shreve should be on the 25 man roster as well.

[rico43]

This from M-Braves voice Kyle Tait: this was Kyle Wren's first career four-hit game as a pro. He's already had 13(!) three-hit games, but never four. With Peraza out for maybe the season, he'll have plenty of ABs atop the order.