6/28/15: GDT - Atlanta Braves @ Pittsburgh Pirates

[Garmel]

Braves
1. Jace Peterson (L) 2B
2. Cameron Maybin (R) CF
3. Nick Markakis (L) RF
4. Chris Johnson (R) 1B
5. A.J. Pierzynski (L) C
6. Pedro Ciriaco (R) 3B
7. Jonny Gomes (R) LF
8. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
9. Alex Wood (R) P

Bucs
1. Josh Harrison (R) 2B
2. Jung Ho Kang (R) 3B
3. Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
4. Starling Marte (R) LF
5. Francisco Cervelli (R) C
6. Jordy Mercer (R) SS
7. Sean Rodriguez (R) 1B
8. Gorkys Hernandez (R) RF
9. Jeff Locke (L) P

[AerchAngel]

Braves
1. Jace Peterson (L) 2B
2. Cameron Maybin (R) CF
3. Nick Markakis (L) RF
4. Chris Johnson (R) 1B
5. A.J. Pierzynski (L) C
6. Pedro Ciriaco (R) 3B
7. Jonny Gomes (R) LF
8. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
9. Alex Wood (R) P

Bucs

How far have we sunk to have a no hit, no power 1B batting 4th? I rather have Andrelton there, he could at least make contact.

[nsacpi]

Expecting a huge game from Pedro Ciriaco

[rico43]

Why, look who's in right field for Pittsburgh. The ontime prospect whose hype exceeded even Mallex Smith's.

[nsacpi]

Why, look who's in right field for Pittsburgh. The ontime prospect whose hype exceeded even Mallex Smith's.

At age 21 he put up a slash line of .316/.361/.387 with the Braves AA team in 228 PA.

[thewupk]

Why, look who's in right field for Pittsburgh. The ontime prospect whose hype exceeded even Mallex Smith's.

All 3 players from that trade that the Pirates got are playing for them now. They got good value for Nate.

[thewupk]

At age 21 he put up a slash line of .316/.361/.387 with the Braves AA team in 228 PA.

I think it was his proposed plus plus defense that got him the hype that he did.

[thethe]

Peterson is so athletic.

[chop2chip]

All 3 players from that trade that the Pirates got are playing for them now. They got good value for Nate.

Really good example of the value of back end rotation starters. You're never excited to see them pitch, but never have to see Eric Stults in your rotation.

[thethe]

I'm done with Gomes. Guy should not be playing anymore.

[jsebe10]

If stupid goes in feet first hrs safe...please cut his pt and DFA him. Good God.

[thewupk]

Really good example of the value of back end rotation starters. You're never excited to see them pitch, but never have to see Eric Stults in your rotation.

Yeah 1-5 depth in important. One of the underrated reasons the 90's Braves won so many games. Sure we had Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz in there all the time. But #4 and #5 were very rarely not league average pitchers.

[chop2chip]

Good to see the good Alex returned today. He hasn't pitched awful lately, but he's been knocked around a bit. He's mowing through a lineup that hits LHP really well.

[WaitingFor2017]

Gomes OPS vs. lefties is now at .788.

9-35 vs. lefties with 10 walks and 11 K's.

His June numbers have been atrocious. He has faced righties in June, but it looks like this:
.563 OPS with 0 Hr, 2 RBI, 6 BB and 16 K.
16 K in 44 PA.

[Julio3000]

Maybin really does see a lot of pitches.

[Julio3000]

That's part of Nick's value, too . . . not ready to jump on the "Nick is Underappreciated" bandwagon, though.

[thethe]

NICK THE STICK!

[thewupk]

The BABIP s/RISP King

[thethe]

The BABIP s/RISP King

Got to play closer to the bases when runners are on. Bigger holes .

[thewupk]

Got to play closer to the bases when runners are on. Bigger holes .

Nick's stick loves those big holes it seems

[jsebe10]

Cut him

[WaitingFor2017]

Leave Jonny in Pittsburgh and call up Adonis Garcia.

[Jay212033]

Can we please just let Perez play from now on?! He's a far better option than Gomes or KJ! Especially defensively

[thethe]

Can we please just let Perez play from now on?! He's a far better option than Gomes or KJ! Especially defensively

Makes no more sense to play Gomes.

[chop2chip]

Would love to see Woody get a Maddux today.

[thethe]

TLS power right there.

[Garmel]

TLS power right there.

Can't help but laugh at the nonsense people were saying about Peterson. Now that that's been disproven they've jumped on the "Peraza has no MLB power" kick. I guess people just love to live in a world of negativity.

[thethe]

Can't help but laugh at the nonsense people were saying about Peterson. Now that that's been disproven they've jumped on the "Peraza has no MLB power" kick. I guess people just love to live in a world of negativity.

We are all victims of scouting the statlines way too much. Once you saw Peterson hit you could see that he would project to some decent power.

[WaitingFor2017]

Mercer is arguing an obvious call when he swung and missed at a pitch way out of the zone earlier in the at-bat?

Come on.

[WaitingFor2017]

Alex for the 8th, please.

[chop2chip]

Alex for the 8th, please.
Would love for him to go for the complete game. Pitch count is good and he has the lead. The key will be Cutch and Marte

[jsebe10]

Cut him

[jsebe10]

Mercer is arguing an obvious call when he swung and missed at a pitch way out of the zone earlier in the at-bat?

Come on.

Lol. Arguing like he's not completely over achieving this series. He's hot garbage at the plate.

[WaitingFor2017]

So, they place Eury in there for Gomes defensively? Why not have Eury also pinch hit for Gomes in the last inning with a righty on the mound?

[WaitingFor2017]

I disagree with taking Woody out. Walker hit a great pitch. I would've given Woody a chance until another runner reached.

[UNCBlue012]

Wow. that is just awful.
Dumb baseball again.

[CrimsonCowboy]

What the heck????????????

[UNCBlue012]

This team is allergic to winning...

[CrimsonCowboy]

Hopefully Eury is OK.

[WaitingFor2017]

Grilli without a 1-2-3 save inning since April? Living on the edge!

[Braves1976]

Hopefully Eury is OK.

Yea, hopefully the kid is fine as that was dangerous.

[WaitingFor2017]

Looks like it still should've been caught by Maybin.

[UNCBlue012]

CF always has priority there.

[CrimsonCowboy]

http://i.imgur.com/P6x0U.gif

[WaitingFor2017]

Wouldn't be a Grilli save without 20+ pitches.

[WaitingFor2017]

CUT.GOMES.NOW.

[UNCBlue012]

Good win! Wood is awesome.

[sentenza]

26 pitches for the save.
Very important W!

[Braves1976]

Looks like it still should've been caught by Maybin.

I am one of Maybin's bigger fans, but he's not getting it done so far in CF this year. His DRS is really bad this early at -11 and his range (-6.6 RngR) is the worst it's ever been too. Hopefully it's just a fluke thing from missing so much time. But whatever it is Maybin hasn't been the plus defender in CF as he had been for his career. If this keeps up we'll have to use him in RF/LF going forward if we don't trade him at some point.

That said, I have loved his improvements at the plate so far this year. And despite his issues on defense he has helped a lot thanks to being such a clutch hitter, etc.

[Jay212033]

This team is allergic to winning...

Guess not

[Braves1976]

Great game by Wood. Glad Grilli held on there but I would trade Grilli soon because I am not sold on him for next year. Plus Viz should be ready soon and either he or JJ can takeover closing games for us. Hopefully we can trade Grilli for a good return by the trade deadline.

[thewupk]

Great game by Wood. Glad Grilli held on there but I would trade Grilli soon because I am not sold on him for next year. Plus Viz should be ready soon and either he or JJ can takeover closing games for us. Hopefully we can trade Grilli for a good return by the trade deadline.

Yeah. The Braves should be trying to get value for all of their short term/older options.

[Braves1976]

BTW, the next time we start both Perez and Maybin I'd try Maybin in LF and Perez in CF. I think that improves our defense given Maybin's recent issues in CF, esp. the lack of range so far this year.

[Braves1976]

I just watched Vizcaino's last outing for Mississippi where he pitched two scoreless innings. Viz topped out at 101 mph in that game! Wow.

If y'all recall he was averaging 98 mph the game before I watched and topping out at 99 mph. If Viz can maintain this velocity or better he may end up our next closer. He is still only 24 years old.

PS: I am not saying averaging 98 mph is the only key for him, command and control also needs to be maintained of course. I am just saying with the extra velo he could really dominate.

[jsebe10]

I just watched Vizcaino's last outing for Mississippi where he pitched two scoreless innings. Viz topped out at 101 mph in that game! Wow.

If y'all recall he was averaging 98 mph the game before I watched and topping out at 99 mph. If Viz can maintain this velocity or better he may end up our next closer. He is still only 24 years old.

PS: I am not saying averaging 98 mph is the only key for him, command and control also needs to be maintained of course. I am just saying with the extra velo he could really dominate.

95-98 is hittable. 101 is not. Imagine throwing that consistently with control.

[stpeteirish]

I just watched Vizcaino's last outing for Mississippi where he pitched two scoreless innings. Viz topped out at 101 mph in that game! Wow.

If y'all recall he was averaging 98 mph the game before I watched and topping out at 99 mph. If Viz can maintain this velocity or better he may end up our next closer. He is still only 24 years old.

PS: I am not saying averaging 98 mph is the only key for him, command and control also needs to be maintained of course. I am just saying with the extra velo he could really dominate.

when is he eligible to pitch in the majors?

[Braves1976]

when is he eligible to pitch in the majors?

I think he has about a week to go on his suspension. I know it was ten days not long ago, so maybe 7 days or less now.

[Braves1976]

95-98 is hittable. 101 is not. Imagine throwing that consistently with control.

Viz hit 101 mph both innings including his only strikeout in his second inning of work. The 101 mph fastball for the strikeout was high but the batter chased it striking out swinging. I am not expecting him to hit that velo regularly as the previous game his high was 99 mph while averaging 98 mph. But if he can stay high 90's and locate his pitches for strikes, that will make his off-speed pitches even more effective.

[thethe]

Viz hit 101 mph both innings including his only strikeout in his second inning of work. The 101 mph fastball for the strikeout was high but the batter chased it striking out swinging. I am not expecting him to hit that velo regularly as the previous game his high was 99 mph while averaging 98 mph. But if he can stay high 90's and locate his pitches for strikes, that will make his off-speed pitches even more effective.

If he is even 95-96 his curveball will be an out pitch at the major league level. Unless it has changed in the last couple of years but Viz has a really nice 12-6.

It could get fun when Freeman gets back and if Viz is effective. All of a sudden the Braves have some effective arms in the pen.

[NinersSBChamps]

CJ 2 hits and the Braves win. Nuff said.

[thethe]

CJ 2 hits and the Braves win. Nuff said.

If all CJ did was hit left handed pitching he would look great.

[Braves1976]

CJ 2 hits and the Braves win. Nuff said.

CJ raised that bad OPS up to .615 on the year! If his name was Jonny Gomes you'd be bashing him. :)

[NinersSBChamps]

CJ raised that bad OPS up to .615 on the year! If his name was Jonny Gomes you'd be bashing him. :)

Nah I don't concern myself with Gomes. CJ is my dude though! :)

[Braves1976]

If he is even 95-96 his curveball will be an out pitch at the major league level. Unless it has changed in the last couple of years but Viz has a really nice 12-6.

It could get fun when Freeman gets back and if Viz is effective. All of a sudden the Braves have some effective arms in the pen.

If Viz keeps up his control (no walks so far in his return) I could certainly see re-visiting the La Stella for Vizcaino and international slot money trade giving it a win for us. La Stella has also been out most of this season for Chicago due to injury and had a set-back in his rehab so he's not close to returning yet. So it's not like they've got anything out of him so far. Viz will have a shot to make an impact for us around July 4th IIRC. And I could still see Viz turning into a very good closer in the future if he stays healthy.

PS: Hopefully Ryan Kelly works out good for us, then once we add Viz if both are effective it would make it easier to deal both JJ and Grilli before the trade deadline. Plus hopefully Moylan and others can help down the line too.