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re: *** 2023 Braves - World Series or Bust ***

Posted on 7/18/22 at 10:50 am to
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 10:50 am to
The Braves took Owen Murphy out of Riverside-Brookfield (Ill.) High School with the 20th overall selection:

quote:

Murphy was one of the best athletes available, having served as his school’s starting quarterback and shortstop. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound third baseman was recently named Illinois’ Gatorade Player of the Year. He posted a 0.12 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings, while also batting .548 with 18 homers during his senior season.

Though some believed Murphy might have been drafted as an infielder within the first five rounds, he set himself apart as a pitcher, throwing four no-hitters (including two perfect games) this year. His fastball velocity rose into the low 90s last summer, and he has always shown a plus slider. The 18-year-old hurler will attempt to find more consistency with his curveball and changeup.

Murphy proved himself against top competition when he produced 10 strikeouts over four innings in the Prospect Development League last summer. He then pitched and played third base for the United States’ 18-and-under team in September.

“The [Prospect Development Pipeline] is at the top of the charts in terms of competition, because most of those kids are going to get drafted,” Brown said. “So you're facing some of the best in your class. He was outstanding.”

Murphy has been committed to Notre Dame since his sophomore year.

“I want to play professional baseball, so saying goodbye (to Notre Dame) will be hard, but I think I'm gonna be able to do it,” Murphy said.
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 10:52 am to
The Braves selected JR Ritchie from Bainbridge (Wash.) High School with the 35th pick:

quote:

Ritchie physically matured after his sophomore year, and his fastball velocity shot into the upper 90s. The six-foot-two, 185-pound pitcher posted a 0.40 ERA, recorded 75 strikeouts and issued just four walks over 35 1/3 innings during his senior season.

“He’s a kid that, if he goes pro here in the next month, I could see him being in the big leagues as a 20-year old, two or three years from now,” Bainbridge baseball coach Geoff Brown told the Seattle Times. “His stuff is that good and his command. I think what is more impressive is his command.”

“Ritchie slipped to us, and we felt really good about it,” Brown said. “He’s for-sure first-round type talent.”
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 10:55 am to
Braves took Cole Phillips from Boerne (Texas) High School with the 57th overall selection:

quote:

Had Phillips not blown out his elbow, he would have likely been one of the first high school pitchers taken this year. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound hurler tallied 42 strikeouts and didn’t allow an earned run over the 23 1/3 innings he completed before undergoing surgery. Brown saw the young hurler touch 99, but other Braves scouts clocked his fastball at the triple-digit level.

The Braves have benefited greatly from the 2020 selection of ?Spencer Strider?, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and then came back the next year throwing harder. MLB.com put Phillips in the discussion of having the “Best Fastball” in the draft class.

“Sometimes, you have to strategically take guys with upside,” Brown said. “He’s a big-time athlete and big Texas fireballer.”
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 11:01 am to
Braves selected Auburn right-hander Blake Burkhalter with the 76th selection, the last of the four picks they made on Sunday:

quote:

The Braves had access to inside info as they evaluated this hurler. Burkhalter had Tim Hudson, a member of the Braves Hall of Fame, as his pitching coach the past two seasons at Auburn. The six-foot, 204-pound pitcher was named an All-American reliever after posting a 3.69 ERA and recording 16 saves while helping the Tigers reach the College World Series this year.

Burkhalter struggled with his command during his first two seasons with Auburn. But he was much more successful this year, when he ditched his slider and developed a cutter. The Braves will have him begin his pro career as a starter, just like Strider did when he was introduced to the Minors in 2021.

“We think he’s got some Strider stuff going on with the delivery, the rise of the fastball and hard slider,” Brown said. “Worst comes to worst, we know we’ve got a big-time end-of-the-game bullpen guy.”
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 11:03 am to
Not sure about taking a top 50 player at 20, but Murphy is supposedly the most legitimate two-way prospect in this draft which isn't worth much IMO. MLB guys said he would have been drafted in the 5th round as a 3rd baseman.
This post was edited on 7/18/22 at 11:12 am
Posted by Canyon16
Muscle Shoals
Member since Nov 2017
3841 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 6:59 pm to
I love the direction Braves took in this year's draft with the pitching prospects.
They were ecstatic with all the selections, particularly JR Ritchie sliding down to their 35th pick.
Also, getting Burkhalter at the 76th pick was a steal.
He was 1 of the more dominant pitcher's in the SEC this season.
He had 16 saves, 71K's with only 7BB's in 46IP.
Hopefully, we'll get these pitching studs signed and soon in the farm system.
Posted by TideSaint
Hill Country
Member since Sep 2008
82925 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 7:02 pm to
quote:

Braves took Cole Phillips from Boerne (Texas) High School


Damn. I live 20 minutes from Boerne. I didn't know they had a big league prospect playing for them.
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/18/22 at 8:41 pm to
quote:

20. Braves — Owen Murphy, RHP, Riverside-Brookfield High (Riverside, Ill.)

Grade: C-

The selection of Murphy this early feels like a money-saving pick by the Braves. Murphy has more polish than most high-school arms, but his arsenal doesn't hold up against other younger arms still on the board. His fastball is a potential plus pitch, but the secondary stuff lags behind, and with a 6-0 frame, the ceiling is relatively low. The Braves have a track record of developing pitchers, but several prep arms still on the board have higher upsides.


Can't disagree.
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/19/22 at 8:25 am to
I'm curious why the Braves and everyone else passed on Brock Porter.

He must have told everyone he was going to college no matter what. That's a crazy roll of the dice with millions on the table. Rangers still going to try to sign him
This post was edited on 7/19/22 at 9:06 am
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/20/22 at 8:28 am to
Someone here mentioned that Acuna wasn't worth dealing with all the prima donna shite, and all the antics-

I have to admit after his last two week slump that saw him do little, and then moonwalk up the first base line after hitting his first homerun in two weeks I started wondering what a top five talent in MLB under an amazing contract would fetch on the open market.

Ultimately I think he's too good to trade, but in all transparency I do find myself wondering if it was a coincidence that the Braves took off the exact moment he exited the clubhouse last year.

He's one of the most gifted baseball players I've ever seen play the game... ever, but I have formed the opinion that I don't like him very much. The way he behaved after every brush back pitch is EXACTLY why he is getting a steady diet of inside heat, because his antics clearly told the opposition he doesn't like the ball in there. Now it's all he's gonna get until he adjust.

Anyhow, his red carpet outfit from the A.S. game crossed my twitter feed and I had to take a moment to first digest, and then ponder, "who wears that?"

Posted by McGregor
Member since Feb 2011
6670 posts
Posted on 7/20/22 at 9:06 am to
Braves went 8-10 after he left the lineup, not exactly lighting it up. They certainly didn't immediately take off.

And nobody cares what he wears while he's not playing the game, or you shouldn't.
Posted by MacMan10
Atlanta, GA
Member since Oct 2020
2267 posts
Posted on 7/20/22 at 11:03 am to
Such a bad take
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/20/22 at 12:37 pm to
quote:

Such a bad take


Are you sure you understand what "my take" is ? If so what exactly has you in your feelings about it ?

1.
quote:

Someone here mentioned that Acuna wasn't worth dealing with all the prima donna shite, and all the antics-



Was a few weeks ago. Someone in this thread was mentioning that M. Harris was better. I dont share those opinions, but they dont bother me either because I enjoy diverse opinions and real conversation.


quote:

I have to admit after his last two week slump that saw him do little, and then moonwalk up the first base line after hitting his first homerun in two weeks


I believe the nonsense was actually called the ice trae, but picturing him moonwalk to first was funnier. Notice how unimpressed the umpire is.





quote:

I started wondering what a top five talent in MLB under an amazing contract would fetch on the open market.


Any good GM or executive team needs to ask the same question. I'm not actually suggesting moving him, but I'm genuinely curious what a trade for a superstar under contract would fetch.

quote:

Ultimately I think he's too good to trade,


That's "my take" if youre really interested.

quote:

but in all transparency I do find myself wondering if it was a coincidence that the Braves took off the exact moment he exited the clubhouse last year.


How can you not be curious how a team suffers an injury to one of the best baseball players on Earth... and get better ? Win the world series. How can you not be curious about the beef between Freeman and Acuna ? Was Acuna a clubhouse distraction that didn't allow the team to gel, or was it all mere coincidence ?



quote:

He's one of the most gifted baseball players I've ever seen play the game... ever,


There's "my take" again.

quote:

but I have formed the opinion that I don't like him very much.


I dont mind having fun and showing more enthusiasm and personality on the ballfield, but the frequency of such behavior probably shouldn't be after every HR you hit... That is simply MY OPINION. Staring down pitchers that pitch in, bat flipping, antics after every HR... that's not my bag.




quote:

The way he behaved after every brush back pitch is EXACTLY why he is getting a steady diet of inside heat, because his antics clearly told the opposition he doesn't like the ball in there.


Truth


quote:

Anyhow, his red carpet outfit from the A.S. game crossed my twitter feed and I had to take a moment to first digest, and then ponder, "who wears that?"


You have to admit it's comically bad.
Posted by MacMan10
Atlanta, GA
Member since Oct 2020
2267 posts
Posted on 7/20/22 at 1:53 pm to
quote:

The way he behaved after every brush back pitch is EXACTLY why he is getting a steady diet of inside heat, because his antics clearly told the opposition he doesn't like the ball in there.


It has nothing to do with "his antics". It's based off analytics and scouting to throw him high and inside.

I'm sorry you don't like his celebrations or his clothes tho lol
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/23/22 at 10:42 am to
I've decided Brian Jordan is more cringy than Francoeur. Jeff sticks his foot in his mouth once or twice a broadcast, but Jordan is just getting warmed up after his first few cringy moments per broadcast.

Yesterday pre-game show Jordan says, "my son asked to come to the game today to see Ohtani... HE NEVER WANTS TO GO TO A BRAVES GAME !"

I could feel the executive team and Chip cringing lol

What does Arcia have to do to get the lions share at second base ? He plays great defense, and has a good bat. Every time he's in the lineup he either helps the team with his bat or his glove. He seems to be a great teammate as well always on the top row of the dugout pulling for guys. I like Arcia, and hope for his continued success and more playing time.

What a game last night. Great pitchers duel until the Braves absolutely ROCK Ohtani late. You could hear all the half completed articles about how Ohtani shut down and dominated the Braves being torn up and thrown in the garbage. Now the headlines this morning are about how the Braves rocked his arse outta the game. Ohtani definitely is a special player though. That's the first time I've been able to watch one of his games- I had no idea he had triple digit heat and a dominant split - nasty.

Riley is a ballplayer.


Posted by Canyon16
Muscle Shoals
Member since Nov 2017
3841 posts
Posted on 7/23/22 at 11:05 am to
I was at the game last night.
Lots of Ohtani fans there wearing his jersey.
He was lights out for 6 innings.
Stadium was rocking moment Olsen hit that bomb in the 7th inning.
I'm with you on Arcia getting most of the starts at 2nd base.

Posted by Gustave
Member since Nov 2015
3392 posts
Posted on 7/23/22 at 11:33 am to
quote:

Yesterday pre-game show Jordan says, "my son asked to come to the game today to see Ohtani... HE NEVER WANTS TO GO TO A BRAVES GAME !"


Ohtani is a special player and brings in casuals. There’s also a lot of media hype around him. I don’t see anything wrong with the comment.
Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/23/22 at 11:41 am to
There isn't anything wrong with it unless you're receiving a paycheck from the Braves organization to sell the Braves brand.

Posted by PowHound
The Peoples Moderator
Member since Jul 2014
7189 posts
Posted on 7/23/22 at 12:57 pm to
quote:

July 22: RHP

Kirby Yates’ rehab assignment transferred

The Braves transferred Yates’ Minor League rehabilitation assignment to Double-A Mississippi on Friday. Yates completed one perfect inning in the Florida Coast League before gaining this transfer. The veteran reliever is attempting to return from Tommy John surgery.
This post was edited on 7/23/22 at 12:57 pm
Posted by mistaken4193
Member since Jan 2017
29415 posts
Posted on 7/23/22 at 5:12 pm to
quote:

I've decided Brian Jordan is more cringy than Francoeur. Jeff sticks his foot in his mouth once or twice a broadcast, but Jordan is just getting warmed up after his first few cringy moments per broadcast.


Should have never demoted Joe Simpson to radio. He is the only one of the 4 main TBS guys we have left. He should be on TV but wokeness won out
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