The Tomahawk Team Wants Some Thursday Afternoon Braves Notes
By Eric Graff
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
- The Braves released news today that Brandon Beachy had gone back to Dr James Andrews for surgery again. No, not another dreaded Tommy John surgery, just arthroscopic surgery to clean up some debris around his right elbow. They are saying that the recovery is about 3 months or so and he should be ready to start Spring Training at 100%. Good thing they found this thing now so he can have the entire off-season to get better. Would have been awful if he went to Spring Training, felt more discomfort, then had the surgery and was out a couple of more months.
- Fredi Gonzalez said today that Jason Heyward and the rest of the regulars not named Brian McCann will be playing all 4 games against the Phillies. This is good news to hear. Gotta get Jason as many ABs as possible before the post-season. Also really need to win these games and get that home field advantage back from the Cardinals. Reports from Heywards pre-game BPs say he is swinging it a lot better now than he was right after coming back. Awesome news!
- Gonzalez also mentioned Jordan Walden today and his ineffectiveness since coming back from injury. Said he plans to pitch Jordan in a couple of the games during the Phillies series and let him prove that he is healthy before he decides to add him to the playoff roster. Interesting that Fredi went there, but I like it. Jordan needs to be healthy or he won’t help us. He has been flat out awful in the few games he has pitched in since coming back from the DL.
- Today the MLB handed out a 1 game suspension and an undisclosed fine to Carlos Gomez and Reed Johnson. That seems about right in my estimation. I’m just glad that MLB didn’t get overzealous and suspend McCann or Freeman for a game. All the punishment they received was an undisclosed fine.