To err is human
Even after errors by third baseman Chris Johnson and second baseman Phil Gosselin on Tuesday night, the Braves still led the majors in fielding through their first 13 games, with just three misplays in 498 total chances. Their .994 fielding percentage led Detroit, Kansas City and Tampa Bay, all with four errors at .992, as Wednesday’s games began.
Perhaps this is not so surprising. The Braves have posted some of the franchise’s best defensive statistics in the past four seasons. Is it any coincidence the numbers have picked up since sure-handed Freddie Freeman became the full-time first baseman in 2011?
Braves best fielding teams:
1. 2011 .987
T2. 2014 .986
2013 .986
2012 .986
2005 .986
‘Franchise Four’
Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax and Tom Seaver currently lead in the “Greatest Living Players” category of Major League Baseball’s “Franchise Four” campaign, which allows fans to vote for the most impactful players who best represent each franchise.
The winners of the month-long period of fan voting on MLB.com/FranchiseFour will be announced during pregame ceremonies before Baseball’s 86th All-Star Game on July 14th at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
In the Braves’ balloting, the franchise top four as of Wednesday were Aaron, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux and Warren Spahn.
On the air
The Gwinnett Braves announced Monday a new broadcast partnership with Cox Media Group to broadcast all 2015 games on the newly created station, 97.7 FM. For the first time in the team’s seven-year history, fans can hear all 144 games across Gwinnett County via the Lawrenceville-based station.
G-Braves games are also streamed online at WSBRadio.com, the website for News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB.
Today’s numbers
26,342
Braves average home attendance after six games at Turner Field, 13th in the National League, better only than Miami (20,997) and Pittsburgh (26,551). Atlanta’s figure is better than six teams in the American League.
13-3
The record after 16 games for the 1986 Mets, the World Series champs that season, and the best mark in club history; the 2015 Mets can match it if they sweep the Braves.
Twitterati
David O’Brien @DOBrienAJC:
#Braves great Chipper Jones was here (Tuesday) in clubhouse. He’s in NY meeting with his book publisher.
He said it
“We haven’t got him out in four years.” — Mets manager Terry Collins on the Braves’ Freddie Freeman, who before Tuesday had played 71 games against the Mets with 84 hits, 13 home runs and 59 RBIs, the most against Collins’ team between 2011-14. Freeman then proceeded to strike out three times and took an 0-for-4 collar in the series opener.
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