TalkingChop 55 mins ago
Julio gets first crack at Red Sox as the Braves travel to Fenway for series opener
It’ll be Teheran vs. Eduardo Rodriguez on the bump in Boston today. Two of Major League Baseball’s best teams will clash at Fenway over the next three days and Julio Teheran will be getting the first opportunity to face the Sox. Teheran has been decent this season so far with a 4.17 ERA but 5.03 FIP indicating he’s been slightly lucky so far. For Julio this is nothing new as he routinely outperforms his peripheral statistics. Teheran has been a different animal away from SunTrust Park where he owns an abysmal 5.54 ERA and .505 slugging percentage against compared to his road ERA of...
TalkingChop 1 hour ago
MLB.com releases new mock draft: Atlanta Braves select Nolan Gorman
Yet another mock draft comes out that has the Braves tied to the prep slugger. Another day, another mock draft tying the Braves to Nolan Gorman. This time it comes from MLB Pipeline in their most recent first round projection. Like all other recent mocks the top two of Auburn pitcher Casey Mize and Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart remains a constant. More of the same at three when the Phillies take Alec Bohm. Things take a change at four as Nick Madrigal gets bumped out for the White Sox to select Brady Singer. Madrigal doesn’t fall far though, as the Reds pick him at five and then the...
TalkingChop 1 hour ago
How the Atlanta Braves 2013 Draft could have gone
This one hurts a little as we watch Sean Manaea in another uniform. The Braves 2013 draft was disappointing. The minute Jason Hursh had his name announced it was clear that the Braves just weren’t looking for the best available talentilable. They took one guy who has had much of a profile since then, and he was dealt away for little in return. If I was picking as the Braves- at the time of the draft is when I recorded my selections, not in hind sight, things would have gone a lot better in 2013 because I would have worked in an overslot guy and hit on a few of the underslot guys. Also...
TalkingChop 2 hours ago
Superlative Braves performances, so far, pitcher edition
The hitting has been great. The pitching has been interesting. Here are some of the best performances for the arms. Previously, we looked at the great performances of Atlanta Braves hitters so far in 2018. But, the pitchers have also had some good runs and have put up some interesting statistical tidbits. Let’s honor them as well. Hey, Sean Newcomb is pretty good Sean Newcomb’s name has been the definite cause of teeth-gnashing and garment-rending in Braves fandom-land over the last few years. First, there was the point at which most Braves fans got acquainted with him — when he was...
TalkingChop 3 hours ago
Atlanta Braves 2018 MLB Draft Targets: Trevor Larnach
The Oregon State power hitting outfielder is a candidate for the Braves at 8 with an underslot deal. Coming into this spring Oregon State outfielder Trevor Larnach wasn’t slugging Oregon State outfielder Trevor Larnach. Rather he was a very strong college player from an elite program better known for his hitting and getting on base than for destroying baseballs. Then as soon as the college season started it was clear on that first weekend who the 2018 version of the Brent Rooker breakout award would be: Larnach. Rooker was a good college player at a top program who made some changes in...
TalkingChop 4 hours ago
Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap 5/24: Touki Toussaint spins 10K gem
Touki Toussaint continued his fine 2018 campaign with another 60+ game score effort. (27-18) Durham Bulls 1, (19-26) Gwinnett Stripers 7 Austin Riley, 3B: 0-for-3, 2BB, R, .303/.365/.470 Dustin Peterson, LF: 1-for-4, .287/.343/.468 Xavier Avery, RF: 2-for-3, 2R, HR, BB, .278/.350/.444 Michael Mader, SP: 6.0IP 3H 1ER 0BB 3K Box Score The Gwinnett staff was on point last night with three pitchers yielding a combined four hits while striking out eight. Michael Mader, called up to make this start, went six quality innings - striking out three and giving up just three hits. Mader also...
TalkingChop 5 hours ago
Fanpost Friday: Worst game you’ve attended
For me, I hope it’s not this weekend This is a fun weekend for me: I get to see the Braves, live, for the first time in over two years. (By the way, shameless pseudo-plug, if you’d like two tickets to Sunday’s game... I’d love to give them to a TCer.) Unlike other people, I don’t tend to curse or exalt the Braves when I show up to the park — sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. It rained one time, and it was miserable, but it happens. So, I can’t say I’ve ever been a part of a miserable time at the ballpark. (Actually, that’s not true — the worst game I attended...
TalkingChop 7 hours ago
Braves News: Austin Riley continues hot start
The Braves top third base prospect is raking in the minors so far. Braves News Austin Riley can’t be stopped The Braves top third base prospect posted 4 more hits in a doubleheader on Wednesday and walked twice last night as he continues to light the minors on fire. Should Riley keep this hot start up the Braves could have an interesting decision to make very soon at third base. Dan Winkler is the real deal Winkler’s career may have gotten off to a rotten start thanks to some elbow injuries but he’s now become a major contributor out of the Braves pen. The former Rule 5 pick is...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop 21 hours ago 
Atlanta Braves off day open thread
The Braves are off today which means we are as well. The floor is yours!
TalkingChop 23 hours ago
Atlanta Braves 2018 MLB Draft Targets: Nolan Gorman
Arizona third baseman Nolan Gorman has turned heads in high school with his light tower power, and it seems the Braves are interested in the young infielder. With two weeks left until the Braves go on the clock in the 2018 MLB Draft, many names have been floating around, but one that has consistently been linked to Atlanta has been Arizona prep third baseman Nolan Gorman. Notably, both Keith Law and Jim Callis have linked the Braves to Gorman with Law even stating he hasn’t heard much in that way of alternatives (link to Law and Callis). Gorman has drawn attention for his raw power which...
TalkingChop May 24, 2018
Superlative Braves performances, so far, hitters edition
This is where some specific Braves hitters stand out There have been many great things to the Braves’ season so far, but the nexus around which those things swirl is that the games matter. While various players wearing the tomahawk-adorned uniform in the past few years have put up superlative performances in some respect (look at you, Frederick Charles Freeman), those had more or less been in vain, as far as end-of-season outcomes went. Suddenly, and if only for right now, that’s not the case. This state of affairs prompted me to take a look at various places where Braves players have...
TalkingChop May 24, 2018
Braves may have building block in Daniel Winkler
After a trying start to his major league career, Braves reliever Daniel Winkler has proven himself to be nearly untouchable this season. The Braves have silenced many doubters with their performance thus far in 2018, with Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, and Sean Newcomb rightfully receiving the vast majority of media attention. However, beyond the gaudy power numbers and scoreless starts, Atlanta is home to another budding star, Daniel Winkler. Winkler was originally acquired by the Braves in the Rule 5 Draft, when he was selected from the Rockies farm system. Winkler was recovering from...
TalkingChop May 24, 2018
How the Atlanta Braves 2012 Draft could have gone
This draft was quite productive for the Braves. The Braves 2012 draft was solid. They picked a talented local prep arm in Lucas Sims, then stole Georgia’s Alex Wood in the second round because of health and durability concerns. The rest of the draft was fairly quiet, but did produce some big leaguers. If I was picking as the Braves- at the time of the draft is when I recorded my selections, not in hind sight, things would have gone a little better in 2012 but not significantly so. Also remember that I had the ability to match any of the Braves picks I wanted for whatever reason- some...
TalkingChop May 24, 2018
Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: Austin Riley Collects 4 hits, but Drew Waters Puts On A Show
Excluding a suspended game due to rain, the remaining games were all won by Braves’ minor league teams. There was a mix of great pitching and hitting. ` Gwinnett Stripers 5, Durham Bulls 4 (Game 1) Box Score Danny Santana, LF: 2-3, 2B, HR, RBI Austin Riley, 3B: 2-3, 2B Rio Ruiz, LF: 0-3, R, SB Evan Phillips, RP: 2IP, 1H, 0ER, 1BB, 4K Game 1 saw the Stripers jump out to an early lead by scoring 4 runs in the 1st inning. After the Bulls tied the game, Danny Santana ultimately wins the game with a HR in the 5th inning. The Braves had men on 1st and 2nd, but Rio Ruiz grounded into a...
TalkingChop May 24, 2018
The only downside of the Braves’ hot start
With early success comes expectations and disappointment. The Braves have been the talk of the league through the first two months of the season. National writers are beginning to take notice. And while some expected the club to take a step forward with an influx of young talent, no one thought Atlanta would be near the top of the National League on May 24th. The Braves have indeed been very good as we approach Memorial Day. They’re among the league leaders (if not the leaders) in every offensive category. The pitching has been good enough thanks to steps taken forward by a handful of...
TalkingChop May 24, 2018
Braves News: Another shutout in Philly
The Braves bats were silenced yet again as the Phillies, behind Jake Arrieta, tossed their second shutout of the series. BRAVES NEWS Braves drop series and get shut out again against Phillies Coming into Philadelphia, a notorious hitter’s park, it would stand to reason that the highest-scoring team in the National League would be in top form. The Braves were unable to crack the Phillies staff however, as Wednesday night saw them shut out for the second time in the three-game series. Jake Arrieta was excellent, going 6 2⁄3 innings, while striking seven and walking just one. Braves...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop May 24, 2018 
Video: Braves come up short in Philadelphia
Phillies’ pitching held the Braves in check in a 4-0 loss. The Atlanta Braves wrapped up their three-game series in Philadelphia with a 4-0 loss to the Phillies. The Braves dropped 2 of 3 in the series and their lead is down to just a half game in the division. TWO-TIME GOLD GLOVER Nick Markakis goes the distance to make his catch.This will show up on @fangraphs in the Defensive Runs Saved category.@Braves | #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/IF6StsTr6c— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) May 24, 2018 Not many highlights to go around for the Braves who did manage eight hits but were...
TalkingChop May 23, 2018
Braves drop series and get shut out again against Phillies
The Phillies finally take a series against the Braves and Atlanta will head to Boston on the heels of another shutout loss. For the second time in three nights, the Braves were wholly bamboozled by Phillies pitching, as Jake Arrieta held Atlanta in check for the most part as the Phillies ended up winning the series with a 4-0 victory. At first glance, it seemed like this was going to be a two-way pitcher’s duel between Arrieta and Luiz Gohara as both pitchers started off the game strongly. With that being said, it did appear as if the Braves would be the team to draw first blood in this...
TalkingChop May 23, 2018
Braves vs. Phillies: 5/23/2018 Game Thread
Will the Braves leave Philadelphia with another series win over the Phillies? Here we go, folks. I don’t think that anybody could have imagined that this would be a relatively big game at this stage of the season, but here we are — the first place Braves are looking to extend their slim lead in the division over the Philadelphia Phillies, who are hot on their heels. The first two games have been tight contests and you have to imagine that tonight’s game will be no different. Get ready, because this will likely be another exciting contest. The floor is yours to talk about the game and...
TalkingChop May 23, 2018
Johan Camargo returns to third base in final game of Phillies series
After being replaced by Ryan Flaherty for a night in order to play the matchups, Johan Camargo will be back at third base for tonight’s game. The lineups for tonight’s pivotal rubber match between the Braves and Phillies have been released, so let’s take a look at what each team is going to look like tonight, shall we? Of course, we’re going to start with a look at the Braves and they’ve made a couple of changes compared to what we saw last night. Luiz Gohara makes his first start of the season tonight in Philly! #ChopOnGame Preview: https://t.co/ycVOE66IkR...
