It appears "likely" that MLB will expand the playoffs to include ten teams starting this season, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. Talks to resolve scheduling obstacles have picked up in recent days as the March 1st deadline draws closer. Here are some links from around MLB…
- No new talks have taken place between the Diamondbacks and catcher Miguel Montero, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com tweets. The sides are up against a soft deadline of March 20th and are surely monitoring extension talks for backstops Russell Martin and Yadier Molina.
- Braves shortstop Jack Wilson will be sidelined with a right calf injury for four to six weeks, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said internal candidates such as Josh Wilson and Drew Sutton could back Tyler Pastornicky up until Wilson returns.
- Mike Minor annoyed Braves people by suggesting he'd like a trade if he isn't in the rotation, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
I remember a calf injury keeping Jack out for quite a while a few years ago. Tough break. Still one of my all time favorite Buccos!
Minor has the right to be upset with the Braves. He has nothing left to prove in the minors. If the Braves don’t want him they need to send him to someone who does.
Agree. Tell the Braves people to grow up.
Braves need to grow up? ATL GM Frank Wren makes a statement to the press that the 5th spot is Minor’s to lose. Later on, Minor makes statements insinuating an ultimatum if he doesn’t get the spot that is essentially his to lose.
Now, how should ATL grow up? This is one of the classiest organizations, through and through, that would trade above-average talent (Yunel Escobar) to preserve clubhouse demeanor and protocol. That’s pretty grown up to me.
If they are so classy why go after the kid in the press?
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Who is going after the kid in the press? GM Wren made a comment about Minor being the leader for the 5th spot, then Minor made the comment. A day later, Minor explained himself in a closed-door meeting with manager Fredi Gonzalez and senior players, presumably McCann/Chipper.
The Braves haven’t commented on Minor’s comments because they don’t need to. The only thing that needs to be said is with Minor’s actions. Pitch even remotely well, and you’ll get the spot.
Now, how is that going after the kid in the press?
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Dude it’s it the press that’s why we’re writing about it on this site!
What?
Anyway, Derek is completely right here.
Whoa, simma down. I just need some clarification. I’ve never seen ATL “go after” Minor or anyone in the press. Please link or quote from sources.
Nobody is upset here. Your comments are nothing but polite and it’s appreciated. It got into the media via Jon Heyman. Someone from the Braves Orginization expressed their annoyance with Minor’s comment. If they did not want it in the media they would not have gone to Heyman to express their thought on the matter.
John Heyman tweeting it isn’t really “Going after him in the press”. Who knows what was said (or if it was said) and who said it and if it was meant to be for the record?
Yeah, I guess the Braves have no right to keep him in the minors. Players that think they are ready and put up good numbers should automatically get a spot on the 25 man roster.
Have no right? Since when is a minor leaguer obligated to play in the majors?!?! If that be the case then there wouldn’t be in drama to “Bull Durham”. They’re all good, but you’ve got to be one of the 5 best options…and he should have shown that last year when Beachy beat him for the 5th spot. If he doesn’t beat Teheran/Delgado out, it’s his own fault – comment or not. ATL isn’t about to give the spot to someone undeserving, especially with the talent they have, because any other reason than that he’s earned it.
Sarcasm meter broken?
I thought you got the memo that sarcasm doesn’t translate online, especially in reference to fringe topics.
No, I think I put the memo about the new cover on the TPS reports on top of that one so I probably missed that one.
Good one, I love “The Office”!
“Office Space”* but yeah, one of my all time favorites. Jen looks great in it too!
Semi-agree. He may have nothing left to prove in the minors, but that doesn’t mean squat if he still isn’t one of the five best starters coming out of Spring Training. Luckily, it looks like he should be.
Agreed. Yeah, Minor may have the right to be upset, but at the same time he needs to be more concerned with the things he CAN control instead of the things he CAN’T control. He just needs to let his play do the talking instead of his mouth and if he pitches good in ST then he should probably get the spot.
I’d honestly rather see Delgado and Teheran get a couple more months in the minors under their belt that way when they do come up, they come up to stay without being sent back down again.
Minor’s minor league stats are decent, but nothing showing much consistency. Besides, Teheran’s minor stats are better. I’m not saying that Teheran deserves the shot over Minor, but when ATL comes out and tells Minor that it’s his job to lose, which they have, why would you make a comment to the media insinuating an ultimatum? He has a right, but he needs to be focusing solely on pitching right now, just like last year or he wouldn’t have beaten out for the 5th spot by Beachy, who is now at the 4th spot — and Beachy doesn’t have the pedigree (1st-rd pick) that Minor does.
The Braves don’t need to do anything, and I don’t think anyone believes that the Braves don’t want him.
It’s very possible that he has a successful beginning to 2012 and isn’t one of the top five guys in the rotation when Hudson returns. The Braves are by no means obligated to trade him in such a scenario. Depth is important, and Minor’s proven he’s a solid depth option.
Regardless of whether Minor is lights out or tanks in Spring Training, I think the Braves should be looking at trade possibilities for him and other starting pitchers. And, if the right deal comes along, then and only then should he or another pitcher be traded.
The idea that the Braves owe him anything is ridiculous. He’s got a contract, he’s contractually obligated to pitch for the Braves organization (in AAA, if five better starters are in Atlanta), and that’s exactly what he’ll be expected to do until he’s no longer under contract.
-C
If the Braves do plan on shopping him around, they naturally need to do it at the right price and for the right type of player and not for someone ridiculous such as Carlos Beltran when that rumor was floating around last August I believe. Although he is considered one the the 4 “untouchables” in alot of circles, I think Minor is by far the most likely of them to be traded if a deal was to happen with our young pitchers.
It’s interesting that this is the second team that Josh and Jack Wilson have played on together.
Also, if Minor wants to get traded, it looks like he’s gone about it the right way. Atlanta’s brass have been known to ship out people who seem to annoy them.
ohhh I hope pastornicky gets off to a decent start. now that the back up plan will be out a little while this could get pretty ugly. ohh well still going to hope for the best
SS is going to be a hole this year if Pastornicky doesn’t pan out- but getting a stopgap SS shouldn’t be too hard if needbe. Simmons is likely the future, and Drew Sutton deserves a shot.
No idea about Sutton’s defense, but his upside on offense is much better than Wilson’s. Don’t see losing Wilson for a month or so hurting this team.
All Pastornicky needs to do is play league average defense and not post an OBP below .290. He does that and he’s not much(if at all) of a downgrade from Gonzo last year. He makes a lot of contact, which is something Gonzalez couldn’t do and the speed between the two players isn’t even comparable.
Meh i hate being tricked..Only Montero i wanna hear about is Jesus.