Open thread, 8/18, Braves vs. Kevin Browns
Could we be witnessing a storybook season? The last two nights make you wonder.
I’m also beginning to wonder if the Braves have to look very far for a new third baseman. Juan Francisco looks like a different player, a transformation that, according to Greg Walker, is a byproduct of hard work.
Walker said Francisco has been working hard to tone down his rotational motion that causes him to fly open and mistime breaking pitches. He’s been working to keep his front foot square so he has more leverage off his front leg.
“He could slow it down even more for me, but he’s working on it,” Walker said. “He does some things as good as anybody I’ve ever coached. His bottom hand is tremendous, and I think he’s learned how to swing the bat using it correctly, being more direct to the baseball.” …
Francisco plans to play winter ball in his native Dominican Republic. He wants to shed 10-15 more pounds and come into spring training ready to compete for a bigger role.
Sounds promising. He certainly has the talent.
Unfortunately, not all the news is good.
#Braves official said McCann’s frayed labrum and cyst caused by shoulder subluxation (temporary dislocation). Usually heals without surgery.— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) August 18, 2012
Encouraging news on Francisco. Not so good on Mac. At least we have the best backup catcher in the game in Ross. That guy is awesome.
Are they going to call up Boscan? Also, on an unrelated note, has anyone read an article about Paul Janish that doesn’t use the adjective “light hitting” prior to his name? I swear you’d think the name on his birth certificate is Light Hitting Paul Janish. That being said, dude has been getting some nice knocks the last few games. Huge upgrade from Wilson.
Don’t be too worried about BMac’s cyst and “frayed labrum.” That anyone even considers them a threat is a bit of a surprise from anyone who knows much about joint disease, because it may hurt a bit, but it’s just a bit of flared up cartilage that all of us suffer from time to time. If it were you or I, we’d wait to the weekend and recover, but for BMan, I think resting him suggests he’s trade bait. Ross will be our opening day catcher next year.
This makes two seasons in a row that McCann has spent the last two months of the season hurt and under-performing. I love the guy but we definitely need to consider who will be our catcher of the future. Ross is a great backup, but I’m not sure how he would do every day.
The bloom seems to be coming off Ben Sheets, too. Maybe the six man rotation will revive him.
Off topic, but it seems Bulky Cabrera is even a bigger douche than we all thought. Too bad MLB doesn’t suspend players for being idiots.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8282185/san-francisco-giants-melky-cabrera-launched-fake-website-ruse-report-says