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Thursday, April 20, 2006
Making room for Prado
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Someone’s going to have to be bumped off the 25-man roster to make room for infielder Martin Prado, and my guess is it’ll be a reliever, most likely Aussie Peter Moylan.
The Braves can afford to go with one less reliever this weekend because the bullpen is completely rested after consecutive complete games from Kyle Davies and TIm Hudson in wins Tuesday and Wedneday against the Mets, who were brought back to earth after jumping out to the fastest five-game lead in major league history.
The lead’s at three now, and the Braves have a weekend series against the struggling Nationals.
Since it sounds like Giles could be ready in a few days and Renteria is expected back by the end of the weekend, that’s why it only makes sense that a reliever would be the one moved to create a spot.
Some might suggest — or beg — that Jorge Sosa get the axe, but that’s not going to happen, or at least I’d be shocked if it did, because they need him to start Tuesday. Horacio Ramirez won’t be ready for another week or two, and Chuck James isn’t stretched out enough to go five or six innings if they wanted to move him to the rotation.
That, plus I don’t think Bobby is ready to give up on Sosa yet. They’re paying him a couple mill, and as awful as he’s been, it is still very early.
Moylan is the most likely candidate because he’s been a non-factor, pitching in just one game on April 12. He pitched a scoreless inning with one hit that day vs. Philly, but hasn’t been called upon since, which should tell you something about his position on the bullpen totem pole.
Prado is a good one, a strong kid with good hands, strong arm and quality bat. He’s already on the 40-man roster, unlike Yunel Escobar, the charismatic Cuban shortstop prospect. Also, Prado is hitting a lot more than Escobar at Double-A, and he’s got versatility, which he showed while playing some second and third base during spring training. He can play all the infield spots except first.
Braves could move a reliever, then recall one next week after Renteria and hopefully Giles are ready, when they won’t need to have both Prado and Tony Pena on the 25-man. For right now, though, they need another healthy infielder.
Sprained finger to keep Giles out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He doesn’t have a broken finger, but Marcus Giles does have a sprained ligament that will keep him out at least a few days.
That was the report from the second baseman’s MRI exam Thursday morning in Atlanta. Giles had feared there was a broken or chipped bone in his swollen left middle finger, which he injured while sliding at the end of a stolen base Tuesday night at Shea Stadium. He returned to Atlanta after the series finale Wednesday, while the Braves went on to Washington for an off day today before their weekend series with the Nationals.
Though Giles will probably avoid going on the DL, the Braves will recall infield prospect Martin Prado from Double-A Mississippi and get him to Washington in time for Friday’s game. They had to do it because they would be short-handed by two positions players otherwise, since Edgar Renteria isn’t expected to play before Saturday or Sunday at the earliest.
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