Spring Training 2K13!

TheKingofSting · Post #2 » by **TheKingofSting** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 6:21 am

The Braves will have at least a dozen spring-training games televised live, including five national broadcasts beginning with their Feb. 28 road game against the Phillies on MLB Network.

MLB Network will also have live coverage of the Braves’ March 4 vs. the New York Mets, March 14 vs. the Cardinals and March 21 vs. the Nationals. ESPN plans to carry the March 18 home game vs. the Phillies from Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Nine Braves games are scheduled to be shown live locally or regionally on three networks: CSS (March 3 vs. Detroit, March 5 vs. Yankees, March 7 vs. Detroit); Fox Sports South (March 13 vs. Miami, March 15 vs. Mets, March 16 vs. Yankees, March 20 vs. Pittsburgh); and SportSouth (March 14 vs. Cardinals, March 21 vs. Nationals).

MLB Network also plans to carry six Braves games on tape delay: March 3 vs. Tigers, March 5 vs. Yankees, March 13 vs. Marlins, March 16 vs. Yankees, March 20 vs Tigers and March 22 vs. Phillies.

ajc

Working out with teammates during the offseason, Freeman followed Dan Uggla's routine, lost 11 pounds and added muscle.

"Dan worked me hard," Freeman said. "I watched how hard he works and started to do it myself. It wasn't easy, but I started losing the pounds and started to feel better. I hope it shows this season."

Uggla, who hit 19 homers and drove in 78 runs for the Braves last season, said Freeman's work ethic was as good as anyone's.

"He worked hard and never dropped out," Uggla said. "I guess he saw my work ethic and bought into it. He's naturally strong, he has a lot of talent and now that he's back to being 100 percent, I think it will pay off."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2013/story ... ast-season

http://cinesport.ajc.com/ajc-mlb-atlant ... -jones-10/

bstrassburg · Post #3 » by **bstrassburg** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:03 pm

Couldn't be more excited for the game today!

Today's starting line-up is:

Simmons SS
Heyward RF
J Upton LF
Freeman 1B
BJ Upton CF
Uggla 2B
Francisco 3B
Laird C
DeWitt DH

Hudson P

Sounds like they are going to be alternating Francisco and Johnson every other day to start off or depending upon match-ups. Would love to see Gattis given a solid opportunity at catcher.

bstrassburg · Post #4 » by **bstrassburg** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:38 pm

Pretty uneventful game. Braves lose 2-1. Joey Terdoslavich (love his last name) hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th. Starters each got 2 AB's with only Freeman and Uggla getting hits, both singles. Jordan Parraz, Ernesto Mejia, and Todd Cunningham had the Braves other hits. Braves held Detroit hitless through 7 when Ryan Buchter allowed back-to-back triples to the Tigers and both of those runners scored.

The highlight was when Jim Powell read my tweet on the air in the top of the 9th.

Post #5 » by **ATL Boy** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:39 am

bstrassburg wrote:Pretty uneventful game. Braves lose 2-1. Joey Terdoslavich (love his last name) hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th. Starters each got 2 AB's with only Freeman and Uggla getting hits, both singles. Jordan Parraz, Ernesto Mejia, and Todd Cunningham had the Braves other hits. Braves held Detroit hitless through 7 when Ryan Buchter allowed back-to-back triples to the Tigers and both of those runners scored.

The highlight was when Jim Powell read my tweet on the air in the top of the 9th.

What was it?

ohara · Post #6 » by **ohara** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:12 pm

0-3 start is rather sad. Starting pitchers seem to be doing OK, and the bullpen is giving up the runs. Hitting is slow right now, and that has to change. Let the bats catch up and we will be OK.

Edit. Ask and you shall receive. Braves win and Justin Upton finally gets a hit - a 450 ft bomb. Bats finally start going.

ohara · Post #7 » by **ohara** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:53 pm

After starting off 0 - 3, the Braves win 3 straight. Playing better ball now. Good to see.

Post #8 » by **ATL Boy** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:54 pm

Braves just lost to the Phillies 10-5, Pastornicky was basically the only source of offense, 2-4, 4 RBI and a 3 Run Home-Run. On another note all this Love for the Nationals and the fact that all the "experts" have already picked them to win the East just makes me sick

ohara · Post #9 » by **ohara** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:01 pm

Maholm looked rotten today. Hopefully gets it out of his system in the Spring Training.

I think we will contend with the Nats all season long. Winner of division and the WC are at stake, but both teams make the post season in my opinion. Nats will be tough indeed, but I am not ceding the Division to them yet.

ohara · Post #10 » by **ohara** » Sat Mar 2, 2013 3:05 am

Some of these pitchers the Braves throw out in Spring Training have a long way to go. Braves up 4-1, and Rasmus gives up 5 ER in the 8th and we lose 6-5. But hey, this is what ST is for I guess.

ohara · Post #11 » by **ohara** » Sun Mar 3, 2013 10:22 pm

Good bounce back game for the Braves. A 6 - 1 win over the Tigers. Good start by Mike Minor.

ohara · Post #12 » by **ohara** » Mon Mar 4, 2013 10:34 pm

Braves beat the Mets 4 - 2 today. Both Justin Upton and Chris Johnson homered. Good job by the newcomers.

TheKingofSting · Post #13 » by **TheKingofSting** » Wed Mar 6, 2013 6:18 am

Everything is looking good so far. Chris Johnson is really grabbing a hold of the 3B job and running with it and Simmons has led his team to the next round of the WBC.

bstrassburg · Post #14 » by **bstrassburg** » Wed Mar 6, 2013 2:07 pm

Kemba2Hendo wrote:Everything is looking good so far. Chris Johnson is really grabbing a hold of the 3B job and running with it and Simmons has led his team to the next round of the WBC.

The awesome thing is Chris Johnson really hasn't played any better than Juan Francisco, it's been a good 3B battle so far. Johnson is hitting .364 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI while Francisco is hitting .360 with 1 HR and 4 RBI. I think Chris Johnson will be the starting 3B because Francisco's LH bat is going to be more valuable off the bench, but glad to see both are starting off well.

Also nice to see some of the future Braves having awesome springs (and some of the potential bench mystery's getting solved), Terdo has been a hit machine with 11 hits in 19 ABs (.579 AVG) and hopefully will figure out AAA pitching this year, Evan Gattis is hitting .421 and looks to have a legit chance of making opening day roster, Pastornicky has improved his odds of starting off the season as the utility guy hitting .409 with 2 homers and 7 RBI (if only his defense would improve), and Jordan Schafer has been playing solid and looks close to having the 5th OF spot locked up especially with Constanza still mysteriously absent.

Meanwhile Heyward besides his 3 HR has struggled hitting only .217 and Uggla is ice cold already hitting a whopping .130. Not worried about Heyward at all but it'd be nice to see Uggla put a couple of good games together.

On the pitching end, O'Flaherty hasn't pitched and Walden only pitched 1 inning due to a minor injuries that aren't expected to linger into the season (although Walden did fly back to ATL to get his back checked out). The starting pitching has all been fine to this point, Maholm and Hudson had one rough outing but looked good in their other two. Teheran has looked solid. JR Graham has been very impressive so far and should have Maholm's spot in the rotation next season. Luis Avilan has really turned into the hidden gem of this bullpen.

ohara · Post #15 » by **ohara** » Thu Mar 7, 2013 10:35 am

Yep, we need Uggla to start off strong for us. Cannot start off in a slump.

bstrassburg · Post #16 » by **bstrassburg** » Thu Mar 7, 2013 8:15 pm

Rumors abound that the Braves may be willing to part with Jonny Venters if they can improve another area on the team. They definitely feel that Avilan can carry a bigger role but I'd be weary considering that Eric O'Flaherty will be a free agent after this season.

Post #17 » by **ATL Boy** » Fri Mar 8, 2013 2:04 pm

Venters has so much potential looking at his 2011 season, I think it's still too soon to let him go

ohara · Post #18 » by **ohara** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 12:27 pm

Venters has a lot of potential. But his regression in 2012 was so frustrating to Braves fans. I trust Wren. If we can sell high and get a very good return, then do it. But I wont be broken hearted if we hold him and hope he gets his form back to what he was in 2011. But I get so sick when he comes in and the other team starts hitting him like batting practice. When he comes in, gotta keep him on a short leash.

TheKingofSting · Post #19 » by **TheKingofSting** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 6:40 am

Huddy got knocked around pretty good yesterday but Bossman, Jr. had a good day at the plate.

bstrassburg · Post #20 » by **bstrassburg** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 2:40 pm

Jason Heyward has been experiencing some shoulder pain after diving for a ball in the Outfield, was out of the line-up for a few games but is back today and not supposed to affect him long-term.

Beachy throwing off mound again today, he's shooting for mid-to-late June but All Star Break more likely.

Also the first round of cuts from the team is expected today, 7 players are getting sent down to minor league camp. Will update when I have names, but no surprises.

Braves rocking as close to their opening day roster as possible today (Andrelton is still with Netherlands team).

Pena SS
Heyward RF
J Upton LF
Freeman 1B
BJ Upton CF
Uggla 2B
Johnson 3B
Laird C

With Julio Teheran who looked awesome in his last outing on the mound.

And for those that didn't hear about or see, Andrelton hit the game tying home run for Netherlands in a game against Mexico yesterday, Netherlands ended up winning the game. Here is the video: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... b&c_id=mlb and here is an awesome ESPN article talking about how Andrelton has the potential to be the best shortstop in the game, http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/ ... -huge-star