Own or write a blog that covers the Atlanta Braves? Add your blog posts
TalkingChop 1 hour ago
Braves News: Dansby not yet ready for live action
The Braves shortstop will begin the Grapefruit League season on the bench as he attempts to fully recover from wrist surgery. BRAVES NEWS Dansby Swanson still recovering from wrist surgery, will sit during early Spring action After undergoing offseason wrist surgery, word out of Braves camp is Dansby Swanson will sit during the early portion of Spring Training to allow the wrist to fully recover. Swanson has yet to participate in live batting practice this spring, which reportedly has been the plan for the 25-year-old for the duration of his rehab. The precaution being taken by the...
TalkingChop 14 hours ago
Dansby Swanson still recovering from wrist surgery, will sit during early Spring action
Shortstop is not yet cleared for live batting practice Usually, Spring Training is a paper mill for “best shape of his life” stories. This time, we’ve got a different story, courtesy of MLB.com reporter Mark Bowman. Bowman writes that presumptive Atlanta Braves starting shortstop Dansby Swanson is still recovering from offseason wrist surgery, and will miss a portion of his team’s Grapefruit League schedule in late February and perhaps early March as well. Per Bowman, the Braves have not yet cleared Swanson to participate in live batting practice. None of this changes the prognosis...
TalkingChop 22 hours ago
Depth perception: Creative ways the Braves can manage the roster
Some unsolicited advice on how the Braves can juggle their roster to maximize their depth of talent By this time in the offseason, Braves fans have spent an unhealthy amount of time fantasizing about Bryce Harper’s luscious locks flowing out from underneath an Atlanta Braves hat or overanalyzing some grainy picture of Craig Kimbrel standing pigeon-toed in the Orlando Airport. Although some of the top free agents are still available, Spring Training (actual baseball games!) is only a few days away. So maybe rather than Googling how far each Spring Training facility is from the Orlando...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 20, 2019 
Braves News: Position players arrive early, Manny Machado signs with Padres and more
Atlanta Braves News Markakis, Riley report to Braves camp Nick Markakis and Austin Riley both reported to Disney on Tuesday meaning that all of the Braves’ position players have arrived in camp one day before Wednesday’s deadline. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Thursday. Inciarte’s key to success in 2019? Consistency Ender Inciarte is looking to build off a strong second half showing in 2018. Newcomb’s value depends highly on ‘19 growth Sean Newcomb showed flashes during 2018 but MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes that his value is dependent on whether or not he can...
TalkingChop Feb 19, 2019
Braves News: Gohara, Inciarte, and more tidbits as players arrive to camp
Braves players are rolling into Orlando, and with each arrival comes news regarding the upcoming season. BRAVES NEWS After grief and injury, Gohara sets the bar high The 2018 season was trying both personally and professionally for Braves left-hander Luiz Gohara, who lost father in the offseason, and subsequently saw his performance on the diamond suffer considerably. Crippling personal tragedy along with the irritation of no longer possessing the elite stuff on the mound made for a difficult road, but now the 21-year-old feels that he is prepared to return to form in 2019. “I really...
TalkingChop Feb 18, 2019
Is it too late for the Braves to improve?
Can the Braves still improve for next season as Spring Training gets underway? At the beginning of the offseason Braves fans had some high expectations. These were increased even more when Josh Donaldson was signed rather quickly to a one-year, $23 million dollar contract. Since then, not much has happened outside of a couple minor moves involving a short-term deal with former Brave Brian McCann and the return of Nick Markakis for another season. This has left some of the fanbase in an uproar which has only been made worse by other teams in the NL East spending big and vastly improving...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 18, 2019 
Braves News: Josh Donaldson arrives, A.J. Minter and more
Most of Atlanta’s position players have already arrived at camp. Atlanta Braves News Josh Donaldson, Ozzie Albies among position players to arrive early to camp Josh Donaldson arrived at Braves’ spring training on Sunday, got in some swings, and talked to the media about his decision to sign in Atlanta and the upcoming season. Just about all of Atlanta’s position players have reported to camp early. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Thursday. Donaldson ready to prove GM, Braves right Donaldson told reporters on Sunday that this is the second time Alex Anthopoulos has...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 17, 2019 
Josh Donaldson, Ozzie Albies among position players to arrive early to camp
News and notes from Braves spring training on Sunday Position players continue to arrive early to camp for the Atlanta Braves. Marquee offseason addition Josh Donaldson was among a group of players that arrived on Sunday that also included Ender Inciarte, Ozzie Albies and Johan Camargo. Donaldson, to his credit, is ready to get to work telling The Athletic’s David O’Brien that this is the second time that Alex Anthopoulos has taken a chance on him and that he is looking forward to proving it wasn’t a mistake. Josh Donaldson said #braves took chance on him, that he proved Alex...
TalkingChop Feb 17, 2019
GoFundMe a Braves Championship
Saving Liberty Media and the Braves from financial ruin The prevailing theme of the 2018-19 offseason, as far as Braves fans are concerned, has been the level of spending that the organization has committed in order to improve upon their surprising 2018 campaign. Many Braves fans are clear in what they want — for an organization that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2001, a deep playoff run in 2019 is clearly the goal, and fans want to see their team stop at nothing to get there. With an offseason in which many potential upgrades to the Braves roster are purported to be available, and...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 17, 2019 
Braves get back to work as pitchers and catchers report
A rather controversial week ends with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. The week got off to a bit of a controversial start for the Atlanta Braves as team chairman Terry McGuirk and general manager Alex Anthopoulos addressed the growing criticism of the team’s offseason in an excellent interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz and David O’Brien. I’m not going to rehash all of those points here on what should have and could have happened over the winter, but here are some highlights. The facts are that the Braves made a splash early with the addition of Josh...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 17, 2019 
Braves News: Freeman arrives at camp, lineup talk and more
Freeman has arrived. Atlanta Braves News Freddie Freeman discusses Craig Kimbrel, Acuña arrives at camp, lineup talk Freddie Freeman arrived at Braves’ camp early and talked about free agent reliever Craig Kimbrel but he doesn’t know where the veteran closer will be headed next. Freddie Freeman on the state of the Braves, the NL East, free agency and more Freeman also discussed several other topics including the state of free agency. He also gave his thoughts on where he thinks the Braves stack up in a revamped NL East. Acuna: ‘I’d like to stay in the leadoff spot’ Ronald...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 16, 2019 
Freddie Freeman discusses Craig Kimbrel, Acuña arrives at camp, lineup talk
News and notes from the second day of spring camp. Atlanta Braves’ pitchers and catchers got back to work on Saturday with their first full-scale workout. Several position players have arrived early to camp including All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman who talked with the media earlier on Saturday. Freeman was asked about former teammate Craig Kimbrel and the picture of him standing in the airport in Orlando which has circulated through social media over the last couple of days. Freeman said he had spoken with Kimbrel but told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Gabe Burns that he...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 16, 2019 
Braves News: Good news for Mike Soroka, outfield preview and more
News and notes from the start of spring camp Atlanta Braves News News and notes as Braves’ Pitchers and Catchers report Braves Pitchers and catchers reported on Friday and there was plenty of news and notes to come out of the first day of camp. The biggest news had to do with the health of rookie right-hander Mike Soroka who has completed six pain-free bullpen sessions already and will not be limited during the spring. Atlanta Braves Spring Training Preview: Outfield Our final article in our spring training preview series focuses on the team’s outfield. The starters appear set although...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019 
2019 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Preview
Everything you need to know about the Braves as they prepare to open camp.
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019 
News and notes as Braves’ Pitchers and Catchers report
Good news on Soroka and more news and notes from the opening of spring camp. Pitchers and catchers reported on Friday for the Atlanta Braves as they prepare open their final spring camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. The opening of camp is always met with optimism and today was no different. Perhaps the best news today came in regards to rookie right-hander Mike Soroka. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Soroka has already completed six pain-free bullpen sessions and he will be on a normal schedule as he competes for a rotation spot. Soroka was limited to just five starts...
TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019
Atlanta Braves 2019 Draft Preview: College Names to Watch
The college baseball season gets underway today and here are 10 guys to watch. Today is the day those desperate for the first look at baseball in 2019 have been waiting for, the kickoff of the college baseball season. It’s been a long winter, but we finally have actual live baseball underway within the next few hours and with that comes a look at some of the top prospects in the 2019 MLB Draft. This draft is very likely the last time in the foreseeable future that the Braves will have a high draft selection (ninth overall) thanks to Carter Stewart not being signed with the eighth pick...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019 
Atlanta Braves Spring Training Preview: Outfield
A familiar group returns for another run in 2019. The Atlanta Braves’ outfield will have a similar look as Ronald Acuna Jr, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis return for the 2019 season. The only real question mark as far as the roster goes is whether or not Adam Duvall can bounce back and provide the team with some depth off the bench. The team is also bringing top prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters to camp so this will be a position group worth paying attention to for the next several weeks. Locks Ronald Acuña Jr. came into 2018 with a world of expectations and lived up to every...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019 
Braves News: Pitchers and catchers report, infielder preview and more
Atlanta Braves News Talking Chop Podcast Episode 152: Pitchers, catchers and front office interviews The Talking Chop Podcast is now part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. That doesn’t mean much now but we will have some surprises coming down the line a bit later. If you have subscribed to us through iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play then you shouldn’t notice any changes in how podcast episodes are delivered. If you listened to us on Soundcloud, then you will need to update your feed. Atlanta Braves Spring Training Preview: Infielders Our spring training preview continues with a closer...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019 
Atlanta Braves Spring Training Broadcast Schedule
This schedule will be updated as soon as the MLB.tv schedule is added. Pitchers and catchers report today for the Atlanta Braves with position players scheduled to follow on February 20. The first full squad workout will take place on February 21 and the Grapefruit League schedule will get underway two days later on February 23. Below is the Braves’ entire spring training schedule as well as broadcast information. We will update this with streaming options as soon as they become available. As always, Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast will carry a few games throughout the spring...
TalkingChop Feb 15, 2019
Talking Chop Podcast Episode 152: Pitchers, catchers and front office interviews
TC’s Scott Coleman joins us. Good evening! The Talking Chop Podcast is here for Episode 152 and, even without a single transaction of note, there is content to discuss surrounding the Atlanta Braves. TC’s own Scott Coleman joins us for a late night show (at least on the east coast) and topics include the following: A change in the podcast that you may not notice J.T. Realmuto is (finally) off the market and we discuss what transpired to get the All-Star catcher to a division rival The interview heard ‘round the world (courtesy of The Athletic’s David O’Brien and Jeff Schultz)...
