MINORS FINAL 5/3: What About Lipka?

[rico43]

What with all the attention the Braves' new acquisitions are getting in this space, I've got to say that the brightest light so far this season has been former No. 1 pick Matt Lipka.
Turning 23 this past week and finally enjoying some good health, he has been a force to reckon with in Mississippi. All grown up and filled out at 6-1, 200, he is among the top five hitters in the league and has on more than one occasion turned in a gold star defensive play (albeit mostly in leflt field).
Hitting .382 going into Sunday's game, Lipka has an OBP of .427 in his first 21 games (26 hits, five walks). He has an 11-game hitting streak going, 15 in his last 16.
He's currently on an 8-for-19 tear and has moments like a bunt double on his resume.
After a rookie league all-star showing in 2010, his career has been nothing but disappointing. His injuries include a slow-healing hand injury and surgery in 2014, a hamstring injury (a total tear) that was deemed career threatening. He also had to transition from infield to outfield. But his potential as a No. 1 says what we're seeing this year is the real deal.



SUNDAY’S GAMES

ALL TIMES EDT
CLASS AAA

Gwinnett 8, Toledo 1

SP: W. Perez 4 IP, 6 H, 0 ER(1R), 2 BB, 5 K. (1.33)
WP: G. Smith (1-1) 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
Peraza 4-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB (.301); A. Garcia 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI (.372); Kleinknecht 2-4, 2 R, HR (1st), RBI.

CLASS AA

Montgomery 7, Mississippi 2

LP: Weber (0-1) 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
Loman 1-4, HR (3rd), RBI, HBP; M. Smith 3-5 (.324); Castro 2-5 (.373); Lipka 0-4 (.361; batting 9th!)

ADVANCED CLASS A

Carolina 13, Frederick 3

11 runs in 7th-8th innings.
SP: Gil 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.
WP: Marksberry (1-0) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K.
Robertshaw (Save, 1) 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Schrader 4-5, 2B, 2 R (.360); Godfrey 4-5, 2B, 2 R; D. Peterson 2-4, 3 R, 2 RBI; Meneses 2-4, R, 4 RBI; Lien 1-4, HR (1st), 3 RBI.

CLASS A

Rome 6, Kannapolis 5

WP: Barker (2-2) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
Salazar 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Kinman (Save, 2) 0.2 IP, 1 BB, 1 K.
Curcio 3-5, 2 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI (.369); Albies 2-5, 2 R, SB (.278); Edgerton 1-5, R, 2 RBI.

[Garmel]

The way Lipka is playing he might get here and play CF before Mallex Smith does.

[dak]

"Bill" Perez w/ an odd line today at GWI. 8 baserunners in just 4 IP, but no ER. 79 pitches.

[thethe]

Peraza and Garcia are a wrecking crew today and basically most of hte season.

I think Peraza can steal 50+ bases in a season right now at hte major league level. Going to be fun to have a guy like that who also can get on base.

[Garmel]

Peraza and Garcia are a wrecking crew today and basically most of hte season.

I think Peraza can steal 50+ bases in a season right now at hte major league level. Going to be fun to have a guy like that who also can get on base.

If Lipka and Mallex Smith continue to develop can you imagine the steals we'll have?

[Braves1976]

Lipka has had a great start and that is good to see. It gives us more CF options including Smith and Perez namely. Smith seems finally better from his foot injury, he missed last night's game again but is back in there today. Mallex Smith has three hits so far today.

That said, Rio Ruiz continues to struggle and is now hitting under .200 on the year. Hopefully he gets going soon.

[thethe]

If Lipka and Mallex Smith continue to develop can you imagine the steals we'll have?

C: Bethancourt
1B: Freeman
2B: Peraza
3B: Peterson
SS: Simmons
RF: Markakis
CF: Maybin/Lipka
LF: Smith/Lipka

For some reason I just love that positional talent. Just great athletes all over place.

[chop2chip]

C: Bethancourt
1B: Freeman
2B: Peraza
3B: Peterson
SS: Simmons
RF: Markakis
CF: Maybin/Lipka
LF: Smith/Lipka

For some reason I just love that positional talent. Just great athletes all over place.

Not a big fan of Jace as a starting 3B. He's never going to hit enough to play a power position.

[thethe]

Not a big fan of Jace as a starting 3B. He's never going to hit enough to play a power position.

As long as we have guys in the lineup that are getting on base I don't care what position they play. Just keep on having tough AB's. Until better hitters emerge that are available or in the system then Peterson is just the smart option.

[Braves1976]

Dustin Peterson continues to do well, he was hitless yesterday but walked twice in 4 AB's. Today he is 1-3 with 2 RBI's and another walk. I should also note that Jacob Schrader is having a big day for Carolina, 4-4 with a double, Schrader is hitting .367 on the season now. They're both doing very well so far.

Peterson with another hit today, so he's been on base three times so far including two hits and a walk

[thethe]

Dustin Peterson continues to do well, he was hitless yesterday but walked twice in 4 AB's. Today he is 1-3 with 2 RBI's and another walk. I should also note that Jacob Schrader is having a big day for Carolina, 4-4 with a double, Schrader is hitting .367 on the season now. They're both doing very well so far.

Dustin Peterson is the type of talent that could have a breakout which springboards him to being a top prospect. Great sign early on. Upton trade could end up being very prosperous for hte organization.

[atl717]

C: Bethancourt
1B: Freeman
2B: Peraza
3B: Peterson
SS: Simmons
RF: Markakis
CF: Maybin/Lipka
LF: Smith/Lipka

For some reason I just love that positional talent. Just great athletes all over place.

Dude that team sucks. I dont know why you love non impact bats.

[Braves1976]

Not a big fan of Jace as a starting 3B. He's never going to hit enough to play a power position.

I understand that concern and one way to remedy it is use Peterson like Prado/Infante in the past, give him reps in the outfield where he can start there too. This way he plays regularly but not always at third. Plus he could continue to back-up short when Simmons needs an off-day (rare I know). Further, we'd want the platoon partner to be a righty to start mostly vs lefties at third. While that fits for CJ my hope is that he's gone by that time.

[Braves1976]

Dustin Peterson is the type of talent that could have a breakout which springboards him to being a top prospect. Great sign early on. Upton trade could end up being very prosperous for hte organization.

Well, if I were still a betting man I'd bet on it to turn our our best trade of them all in the end. But part of that is I am not as high as y'all on the Gattis trade, among others. Further, I have liked what I've seen from Smith, Peterson and Peterson so far, at least for the most part. So if that continues and if Fried comes back strong then that would be great.

[chop2chip]

I understand that concern and one way to remedy it is use Peterson like Prado/Infante in the past, give him reps in the outfield where he can start there too. This way he plays regularly but not always at third. Plus he could continue to back-up short when Simmons needs an off-day (rare I know). Further, we'd want the platoon partner to be a righty to start mostly vs lefties at third. While that fits for CJ my hope is that he's gone by that time.

Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of him as a super sub. I think he could be great at that because he should profile as a decent hitter and he looks like the type of player that can be play 7 positions in a pinch. I just don't think it bodes well for us if he's our best option to start anywhere.

[Braves1976]

BTW, if this Adonis Garcia keeps raking he needs to get a shot with us. The knock on him by some is said to be his defense, at least Bowman said so. But from what I've seen he's looked fine outside of a few errors so far. Plus he's played multiple positions too. He is now hitting .377 with Gwinnett and really seems a good hitter so if nothing else should be a good bench or platoon option at multiple positions.

I'd take him off the bench over Gosselin any day.

[thethe]

Peraza on base 5 times today. Damn, that kid is on fire.

[Braves1976]

Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of him as a super sub. I think he could be great at that because he should profile as a decent hitter and he looks like the type of player that can be play 7 positions in a pinch. I just don't think it bodes well for us if he's our best option to start anywhere.

Oh, I figured that is what you meant so I understand your position. But at least we know Peterson's defense would be a big upgrade to CJ's at third.

[Braves1976]

Peraza on base 5 times today. Damn, that kid is on fire.

Yep, now hitting over .300 at .301 too. He should have a higher average, he's had some bad calls against him cost him a few hits this month. But after starting slow, mainly the first week, he's been much better since then. He actually looked overmatched early on in AAA, same as Spring Training, but then about a week in he seemed to come alive and stopped pressing. He's been quite good ever since then, at least hitting wise. He's actually made some rookie errors in the field which is unlike him. He already has six errors and some of them he was trying to do too much I think. He needs to clean that up because he's a lot better than he's showed on defense so far.

[Braves1976]

We jinxed Lipka with all the praise it seems, he went 0-4 today. Rio Ruiz finally got a hit to bring his average up to .206, he went 1-4 with a walk today. That is better but we need him to start hitting more and showing some power would be nice too.