Atlanta Braves Baseball Blog » Braves News http://www.braveshomeplate.com A blog about Atlanta Braves Baseball Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:56:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Braves invite non-roster players to spring training http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-invite-non-roster-players-to-spring-training/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-invite-non-roster-players-to-spring-training/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:33:57 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=85 Hey everyone, I just got a quick update today as the Braves have invited some non-roster invitees to spring training. Every once in a while one of these players will make the team out of spring traning but for most of them, this is about as good as it will get.

RHPs Rafael Cruz, Emiliano Fruto, Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen; LHPs Francisley Bueno, Mariano Gomez and Juan Perez); catchers J.C. Boscan, Phillip Britton, Alvin Colina and Matt Kennelly; INFs Brooks Conrad, Freddie Freeman and Brandon Hicks, and OFs Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer are the players that have been invited.

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-invite-non-roster-players-to-spring-training/feed/ 0 Braves are set to sign Derrek Lowe http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-are-set-to-sign-derrek-lowe/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-are-set-to-sign-derrek-lowe/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:49:04 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=84 The Atlanta Braves have signed another starting pitcher this off season as they have agreed on a four year deal with Derrek Lowe. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the four-year deal will be worth $60 million. All that needs to be done now is for Lowe to pass a physical and he will be the newest member of the Atlanta Braves.

Lowe, 35, has a career 126-107 record in 12 seasons with Seattle, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Braves also announced that they have officialy signed Kenshin Kawakami to a three-year contract worth $24 million. We blogged about this signing a couple of days ago and now that Kawakami passed his physical everything is official.

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-are-set-to-sign-derrek-lowe/feed/ 0 Braves see Smoltz go to the Red Sox and then sign Kawakami http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-see-smoltz-go-to-the-red-sox-and-then-sign-kawakami/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-see-smoltz-go-to-the-red-sox-and-then-sign-kawakami/#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:48:36 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=83 The Atlanta Braves seen John Smoltz sign with the Boston Red Sox this past week and so they went out and signed Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. Kawakami has pitched the last 11 seasons in Japan’s central league and was one of the best pitchers in the league. Kawakami went 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA in 20 appearances (16 starts) and 117 1/3 innings for the Chunichi Dragons this past season. He missed nearly three weeks in September with a strained back and pitched most of the season in a six-man rotation.

The Braves are also expected to make a formal offer to free agent Derek Lowe on Monday or Tuesday. Lowe would be a great free agent pickup for the team and will make the starting rotation a lot better.

It will suck to see John Smoltz playing for the Boston Red Sox but general manager Frank Wren just couldn’t take another risk on a verteran pitcher coming off of an injury.

Braves Blog

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-see-smoltz-go-to-the-red-sox-and-then-sign-kawakami/feed/ 0 Furcal elects to stay with the Dodgers http://www.braveshomeplate.com/furcal-elects-to-stay-with-the-dodgers/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/furcal-elects-to-stay-with-the-dodgers/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:13:30 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=82 Talk about an up and down week for the Atlanta Braves. First they think that Rafael Furcal will be coming back and then reports saying that he would be choosing between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Braves. Well it now looks like Furcal has agreed on a three year contract with the Dodgers as long as he passes a physical.

The terms of the contract haven’t been released, but all signs are pointing to $10 million per year for three years. Yeah, the same terms that the Braves were offering him. Furcal simply chose to stay on the West coast rather then coming back to play for the Braves.

We wish him luck, but his agent sure played the Braves in this deal.

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/furcal-elects-to-stay-with-the-dodgers/feed/ 0 Furcal not a Braves – Yet http://www.braveshomeplate.com/furcal-not-a-braves-yet/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/furcal-not-a-braves-yet/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:18:57 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=81 Looks like I blew the gun a little to quick the other day when I was blogging abotu Rafael Furcal coming back to the Braves. Sources are now saying that the deal was never signed and Furcal is still trying to decide who he wants to play for in 2009. It is down to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves however.

Paul Kinzer who is Furcal’s agent said a deal with the Braves was close but was never signed like it had been reported. Right now, reports are saying that Furcal should be deciding on Wednesday or Thursday.

Keep checking back and we will have an update soon.

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/furcal-not-a-braves-yet/feed/ 0 Rafael Furcal will be coming back to the Braves http://www.braveshomeplate.com/rafael-furcal-will-be-coming-back-to-the-braves/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/rafael-furcal-will-be-coming-back-to-the-braves/#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:01:51 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=80 The Braves have mostly struck out during the offseason so far as they have missed out on Jake Peavy and A.J. Burnett but it looks like they have found one free agent that they will be spending some money on. Rafael Furcal appears to be headed back to Atlanta once he passes a physical reports are saying.

Furcal was brought into the major leagues by Braves and played with the team from 2000-2005. He has kept his home in suburban Atlanta even though he has played the last couple of seasons out in Los Angeles with the Dodgers.

The contract is being rumored to be for three years with a vesting option for a fourth year. I expect it to be close to what the Oakland A’s were offering in the $10 million per year range.

Most Braves fans are now wondering what the teams plans are with Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson. Both of them have been rumored in past trades. I still expect Furcal to be a shortstop, and then Escobar or Johnson to play second base. The other player could be the main guy out and possibly still moved this off season for some starting pitching.

What’s your thoughts on the deal?

Atlanta Braves

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/rafael-furcal-will-be-coming-back-to-the-braves/feed/ 0 Braves trade for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-trade-for-javier-vazquez-and-boone-logan/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-trade-for-javier-vazquez-and-boone-logan/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:36:19 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=78 The Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox have now officialy completed a six player trade that will send starting pitcher Javier Vazquez to the Braves along with left handed reliever Boone Logan. The Braves will be sending four players to the White Sox including shortstop Brent Lillibridge, catcher Tyler Flowers, left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez and third baseman Jon Gilmore

The trade was first talked about earlier in the week but the Braves wanted to have a physical and mri done on Vazquez to make sure everything was ok. That all happened on Wednesday and the trade was officialy announced Thursday morning.

“It’s a fresh start for me,” said Vazquez, who went 12-16 with a 4.67 ERA in 33 starts for the White Sox this past season. “I’ve always liked the National League more than the American League. Being able to be a part of all facets of the game is important to me.”

Atlanta Braves

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-trade-for-javier-vazquez-and-boone-logan/feed/ 0 Late runs doom the Braves in loss to the Phillies http://www.braveshomeplate.com/late-runs-doom-the-braves-in-loss-to-the-phillies/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/late-runs-doom-the-braves-in-loss-to-the-phillies/#comments Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:46:03 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=75 The Atlanta Braves gave up four runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the eighth inning as they lost 6-2. The Braves thought they would have a shot in the top of the ninth but after giving up four runs, that thought was quickly gone.

Jeff Bennett was charged with three of the four runs in the eighth inning. He had a terrible outing as he took the loss. However it was Julian Tavarez who gave up the big blast when Pat Burrell took him deep for a three run home run.

Braves starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings to get the no decision.

The Braves didn’t have much offense as both of their runs came on a two-run home run by Kelly Johnson. Johnson now has 12 home runs on the season. It’s too bad that the rest of the offense struggled all night long.

Braves Blog

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/late-runs-doom-the-braves-in-loss-to-the-phillies/feed/ 0 Braves shutout by the Phillies 6-1 http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-shutout-by-the-phillies-6-1/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-shutout-by-the-phillies-6-1/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:02:24 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=74 You could tell on Wednesday night that one team was in a playoff race and one was not as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 6-0. The Braves just seemed to be entirely out of the game and you have to wonder if they are pretty much packing it in for the season

Jair Jurrjens only lasted five innings as he gave up five hits and four runs. Jurrjens took the lose for the Braves as well and dropped to 13-10 on the year. Relief pitcher Blaine Boyer gave up two more runs in relief as he had a bad outing as well.

The Braves offense was held to only one run which came in the bottom of the ninth inning. Greg Norton singled to centerfield to score Jeff Francoeur for the Braves only run.

The two teams will face off again on Thursday as the Braves will look to put a hamper in the Phillies playoff run.

Braves Blog

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-shutout-by-the-phillies-6-1/feed/ 0 Braves drop two of three against the Marlins http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-drop-two-of-three-against-the-marlins/ http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-drop-two-of-three-against-the-marlins/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:07:34 +0000 Chipper http://www.braveshomeplate.com/?p=73 The Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins finished up a three game series on Wednesday afternoon. The bad news for Braves fans is that the Braves lost 5-3 and dropped two out of three games down in Miami. The Braves now have a 60-80 record on the season.

All three of the Braves runs came in the fourth inning when Kelly Johnson tripled to score Brent Lillibridge and Omar Infante. The Braves were not done in the inning however as Jeff Francoeur doubled to score Johnson and put the Braves up 3-1.

However, the Braves pitching staff couldn’t hold the lead as the Marlins scored two in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 3-3 and then added two more runs in the seventh inning to take the lead. Braves starting pitcher Jorge Campillo pitched the first five innings and gave up four hits and three runs. He ended up with a no decision however as Will Ohman took the loss after being charged with a run in the seventh inning.Vladimir Nunez also gave up a run in the seventh inning.

Most Braves fans probably wish that the season was over now and I don’t really blame them. When your team is used to making the playoffs and is 20 games under .500 it is hard to really root for them.

Braves Baseball

]]> http://www.braveshomeplate.com/braves-drop-two-of-three-against-the-marlins/feed/ 0