8/8/2015 SATURDAY MINORS FINAL: Gwinnett on 13-2 tear

[rico43]

MOVES
1B Mitch Lambson to Miss. from Gwinnett
OF Connor Oliver released from Rome roster; quite an underdog as 23rd round pick in 2013
Braxton Davidson activated from DL (concussion)
Luke Dykstra promoted to Rome from Danville

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EDT

CLASS AAA

Gwinnett 6, Buffalo 5 (10)

Bethancourt walkoff hit; G-Braves 13-2 in last 15 games.
SP: V. Mateo 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.
WP: Fisher (2-4) 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.
M. Smith 3-6, 2B, 2 R, SB; Bethancourt 2-5, RBI; Hunter 1-4, 3B, R, RBI; EYJ 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB.

CLASS AA

Mississippi 1, Biloxi 1 (6th, suspended)

Resumes Sunday
SP: Bird 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K.
Landoni 1-3, RBI; Rohm 1-3, 2B.

ADVANCED CLASS A

Potomac 7, Carolina 4

LP: Thurman (5-4) 6 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
Otero 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.
Meneses 2-4, R, RBI; Schrader 1-4, 2B; Lien 1-5, 3 K.

CLASS A

Game One
Augusta 4, Rome 0 (7)

LP: Furney (6-5) 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, CG.
Edgerton 2-3; De La Rosa 2-2, BB; Dykstra 1-3.

Game Two
Rome 5, Augusta 3 (8)

SP: Gil 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.
WP: Phillips (1-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.
Davidson 1-2, 2B, R, 2 BB (back from DL).
Obregon 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Gaylor 1-4, 2B, 2 R.

SHORT-SEASON

GCL Astros 5, GCL Braves 1

LP: Falcon (1-4) 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.
Yelich 3-4, SB; Nesovic 2-3, 2B, R,SB; Wilson 1-2, 2 BB, SB.

Danville 5, Pulaski 1

WP: Belicek (3-0) 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.
G. Jones 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Morel 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB; Lanning 2-3, R, RBI; Ellison 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI; Castro 2-5, RBI (.342).

DSL Braves 7, DSL Brewers 4

SP: G. Henry 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.
WP: Laguna (BS, 4-0) 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
Taveras (Save, 6) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Ventura 1-1, R (PH, .346); Contreras 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB; Ferrer 2-5, 2B, R, RBI; Concepcion 1-2, 2 R, 3 BB.

[cajunrevenge]

Gant made BA's hotsheet and they had this to say about him.

The Scoop: Part of the Braves’ haul when they traded Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and cash to the Mets, Gant has achieved big results as a pro with a deceptive delivery, fringe fastball and quality split-changeup. In his past six starts at the Double-A level, he has gone 4-2, 3.34 with a fine 35-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35 innings.

[rico43]

Davidson activated, Connor Oliver released; other moves pending today

[Oklahomabrave]

Wow wasn't Dykstra just promoted to Danvile?

[auyushu]

Wow wasn't Dykstra just promoted to Danvile?

Nah, he started there this year.

[50PoundHead]

I thought Connor Oliver was on the right track after a fairly solid year in 2014, but it looked like he topped out. It's a really fine line.

[KB21]

Watching the game last night, Chipper Jones mentioned that he told his 1995 teammates that he loved them, but the best team he was ever on was the 1992 Greenville Braves AA team. That team won 106 out of 150 or so games that year (actually 100 Ws and 43 Ls). That team was headlined by Chipper, Javy, Mike Kelly, Melvin Nieves....etc.

The next wave of major talent was on the 2005 Mississippi team with McCann, Francoeur, Gregor Blanco, Martin Prado, Chuck James, Anthony Lerew, Blaine Boyer...etc.

I think the system could be looking at another tremendous wave of talent coming up. It's possible that in 2017, the Mississippi Braves will be showcasing a line up that includes Austin Riley, Braxton Davidson, Luke Dykstra, Bradley Keller, Leonys Baez, and Juan Yepez with a rotation that includes Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Ricardo Sanchez, Touki Toussaint, Jaret Hellinger, Gilbert Suarez...etc.

[nsacpi]

Watching the game last night, Chipper Jones mentioned that he told his 1995 teammates that he loved them, but the best team he was ever on was the 1992 Greenville Braves AA team. That team won 106 out of 150 or so games that year (actually 100 Ws and 43 Ls). That team was headlined by Chipper, Javy, Mike Kelly, Melvin Nieves....etc.

The next wave of major talent was on the 2005 Mississippi team with McCann, Francoeur, Gregor Blanco, Martin Prado, Chuck James, Anthony Lerew, Blaine Boyer...etc.

I think the system could be looking at another tremendous wave of talent coming up. It's possible that in 2017, the Mississippi Braves will be showcasing a line up that includes Austin Riley, Braxton Davidson, Luke Dykstra, Bradley Keller, Leonys Baez, and Juan Yepez with a rotation that includes Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Ricardo Sanchez, Touki Toussaint, Jaret Hellinger, Gilbert Suarez...etc.

Even though it was a wave of two, it was pretty special getting Heyward and Freeman in the same draft and having them come up together during most of their minor league career.

And yes, the current group of kids playing their age 17 and 18 seasons is pretty special. To the guys you listed, I would add Albies who is a little ahead of the group but only 18, Randy Ventura who's accomplishments in the DLS can't be ignored and Ronald Acuna, who might have the best overall set of tools of the group.

[KB21]

Even though it was a wave of two, it was pretty special getting Heyward and Freeman in the same draft and having them come up together during most of their minor league career.

And yes, the current group of kids playing their age 17 and 18 seasons is pretty special. To the guys you listed, I would add Albies who is a little ahead of the group but only 18, Randy Ventura who's accomplishments in the DLS can't be ignored and Ronald Acuna, who might have the best overall set of tools of the group.

It's a sign of the improvement in the system. We have guys who are showing a lot of potential at the lower levels. Previously, when the Braves graduated a player to the majors, they had another top prospect fill the spot. Recently, we haven't had many top prospects period, and when one gets promoted, the system takes a hit.

[msstate7]

If the plan is to use albies at 2b, when do we move him there in the minors?

[msstate7]

Mallex...
1-3, cs

Bethancourt...
0-1, bb

Bethancourt walking? If he starts drawing walks, he'll definitely be pushing his way back up here

[auyushu]

If the plan is to use albies at 2b, when do we move him there in the minors?

If Riley keeps playing like he has and progresses as a prospect we could easily wind up with a 2B Olivera, SS Albies, 3B Riley situation come mid 2018. I don't think it's any sort of certainty Albies stays as a 2B long term, or at all.

[Oklahomabrave]

Any word where Riley has been the past two games?

[msstate7]

Mallex with another hit and sb. Mallex now hitting .245 and 19 sb's.

[thethe]

Mallex with another hit and sb. Mallex now hitting .245 and 19 sb's.

Some posters couldn't wait for him to struggle. It was cute.

[msstate7]

Give Mallex another hit (2b). He's now 3-5 and up to .250.

3-5, 2b, sb, 2 r

[Braves1976]

Give Mallex another hit (2b). He's now 3-4 and up to .250

I was never concerned about him, I thought his slow start was mostly bad luck type stuff similar to his slow start in low-A only a tad slower. Hopefully the strong finish he had there is starting now in AAA too. Further, I have been impressed with his defense in CF in AAA and that means a lot too given the importance of defense in CF. Plus having Bourn mentor him next Spring Training should help him become even better.

[Braves1976]

Bethancourt stays hot walking off the G-Braves tonight.

[msstate7]

Bethancourt stays hot walking off the G-Braves tonight.

2-5, bb, rbi

Now hitting .309. I had given up on him, but I might have been too quick on the trigger

[thethe]

Bethancourt stays hot walking off the G-Braves tonight.

Braves have to play him 120+ games next year. I like Lavarnway as well but hopefully they can bring AJ back in a backup roll. But before that is done, the front office has to be clear with Freddi that CB plays the majority of the time.

[rico43]

Watching the game last night, Chipper Jones mentioned that he told his 1995 teammates that he loved them, but the best team he was ever on was the 1992 Greenville Braves AA team. That team won 106 out of 150 or so games that year (actually 100 Ws and 43 Ls). That team was headlined by Chipper, Javy, Mike Kelly, Melvin Nieves....etc.

The next wave of major talent was on the 2005 Mississippi team with McCann, Francoeur, Gregor Blanco, Martin Prado, Chuck James, Anthony Lerew, Blaine Boyer...etc.

I think the system could be looking at another tremendous wave of talent coming up. It's possible that in 2017, the Mississippi Braves will be showcasing a line up that includes Austin Riley, Braxton Davidson, Luke Dykstra, Bradley Keller, Leonys Baez, and Juan Yepez with a rotation that includes Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Ricardo Sanchez, Touki Toussaint, Jaret Hellinger, Gilbert Suarez...etc.

It actually was 106, including six playoff games! In the finals, they beat a Chattanooga team that had 90 regular season wins.

[auyushu]

Braves have to play him 120+ games next year. I like Lavarnway as well but hopefully they can bring AJ back in a backup roll. But before that is done, the front office has to be clear with Freddi that CB plays the majority of the time.

I really don't get why he's not up and starting right now. We could get a good two months of starting out of him and see how he is.

[GovClintonTyree]

I really don't get why he's not up and starting right now. We could get a good two months of starting out of him and see how he is.

Because of his sloppy defense and poor dedication?

Also, he wasn't hitting .307 at the ML level.

[auyushu]

Because of his sloppy defense and poor dedication?

Also, he wasn't hitting .307 at the ML level.

And that was 2 months ago, I'm wondering why he's not up now. What is the downside? He sucks and we get a better draft because we lose an extra game or two? I'm not even a fan of him really and don't think he'll be anything more than a backup catcher at the ML level, but he deserves to get a consistent couple month stretch as a starter to find out what he's got.

[Chico]

I think CB is gone this offseason. Keep him down and let him build his value back up some.

[emk418]

Braves have to play him 120+ games next year. I like Lavarnway as well but hopefully they can bring AJ back in a backup roll. But before that is done, the front office has to be clear with Freddi that CB plays the majority of the time.

He needs to be up soon to see what he can do.