Braves Report

With the MLB Draft 11 days away, Braves-report.com will start to profile some of the  prospects that fit the Braves profile. There will be a new prospect profile added daily. First up is Xavier Avery.

Height: 5’11
Weight: 180
Birthdate: 1/1/1989
City: Ellenwood
State: GA
Position: OF
B/T: L

Is one of the fastest players in the draft, running a 6.2 60 yard dash. Was a four star football recruit. Due to his speed he is projected to be an above average outfielder. He still has a long ways to go with the bat. Needs to improve his approach at the plate. He is still extremely raw. Both in his skill set and his instincts. Is one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Also possesses one of the biggest upsides in the draft.

Well, that game was just ugly. Glavine wasn’t so good, the pen had (what has become) a rare poor outing. The bats were quiet. All of that seems to point to a drubbing of the Braves, and that is just what happened. Jurrjens is going to have his “A” game tomorrow to salvage the split.

Glavine had a shaky first inning, seemed to get it under some sort of control, only to watch it all unravel in the fifth. In 4.2 innings he allowed five hits and a near career high six walks which led to six runs all earned. The big blow, a grand slam home run. Stockman pitched 2.1 great innings, not allowing a run (he was the only Braves pitcher who can claim that today). Ohman was horrible. He only managed to get one person out while allowing three hits, a walk and two runs. Resop was brought in to end the madness (or was it mop up?) , he pitched 1.2 innings allowing a run on two walks.

Despite Owings early struggles the Braves only managed three run on six hits and two BBs. Not one Braves managed more than on hit and no Brave hit for extra bases.

Braves lose 3-9.

Tomorrow’s game, 1:05 PM. Not nationally televised.

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Going into the bottom of the ninth, I thought to myself, we better win it here because we never win in extras. Thankfully, Frenchy agreed. This was a “classic” Braves game, the pitching was outstanding, the hitting was just (barely) enough.

I am a little disappointed Campy didn’t get the win, he surely pitched well enough, just not long enough. He gave us four great innings, but then a blister pulled him from the game after only 59 pitches. He limited the Diamondbacks to only two hits in those four innings, no walks and three strikeouts. To that point he had out pitched Randy Johnson. The pen was going to have to be pretty close to perfect to get the win, and they were. Bennett, Mr. Rubber Arm, pitched three solid innings only giving up one hit, but with three walks that one hit lead to a run. Ohman pitched to one batter, and got him out. Boyer pitched the last 1.2 innings for the win, only allowing a walk. Four pitchers combined for one run, limiting the D-Backs to only three hits.

Not a lot going on behind the plate, but enough to win the game. First, Frenchy was the most productive. He had two hits, and drove in the winning runs in the ninth with a walk off, two run home run. Escobar had several dazzling defensive plays to go with his RBI single. Chipper remains “hot” (is it still “hot” when the season is over 1/4th done?) with two hits and a run scored.

Braves walk off, 3 – 1.

Tomorrow’s game 1:35 PM, not nationally televised.

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Well, that four game sweep of the Mets sure was nice, wasn’t it? Not a whole lot to talk about this game, nothing good, at least. We didn’t really hit, we totally didn’t pitch, we didn’t field. Hell, what exactly did we do right? Oh, Chipper raised his average, I guess that is a plus.

Jojo was back to his old tricks. He couldn’t hit his spots, he walked batters (who scored), and he gave up the long ball. Looking at his line score, I guess a plus is he didn’t give up too many hits (but I think most of the hits he did give up left the yard). The pen wasn’t much better. Resop, two innings, two runs. Ring, one inning, one run. Stockman ended the madness with a perfect inning.

The bats, this should be a quick. McCann had 2 singles. No one had an extra base hit. The lone RBI was driven in by KJ.

The Braves committed two errors, Chipper on a throw and Diaz bobbled the ball.

Braves lose big 11-1.

Tomorrow’s game 3:55 PM on FOX.

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