Good points, but we need a viable replacement.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Braves try to trade for Denard Span this winter if they aren't able to re-sign Bourn to a reasonable extension. He has a very reasonable contract for the next couple of years.

Ben Badler chat from Friday:

Q): Once Vizcaino recovers, do you believe he'll be a SP or RP? Would you consider him the Cubs' top minor league arm at present?

Ben Badler: The track record of his inability to stay healthy just screams reliever. That said, his stuff is absolutely filthy, so there's potential for him to be a dominant reliever. Given the lack of pitching in that system, yeah, I'd say he's the Cubs top pitching prospect.

Q): Ben, is it officially time to jump ship on Teheran? there has to be more here than normal ups and downs for a prospect...right?

Ben Badler: Jump ship? No, but if you want to start eyeing the life boats, I think it's fair to be ready. There just hasn't been a lot of progress there.

i remember watching a game on MILB.tv i think it was last year, and i saw a lefty reliever named ronan pacheco come in and just humiliate 3 left handed hitters in a row...i remember him having a really kinda goofy delivery and all, but does he have any type of future as a loogy perhaps?

I started paying attention to Pacheco last year because of his extreme ground ball tendencies. He did have a funky delivery, which I thought was contributing to the grounders.

He has disappointed since about mid-season last year. He got killed in High-A (.362 BAA despite the groundball rate) and subsequently demoted. He's been okay in Rome; the peripherals are worse than the shiny ERA. However, at his age, his Low-A resume is not that impressive.

I am not sure the LOOGY thing works either as his splits are not that pronounced.

There's time for a revelation, but it is running out in a system deep in pitching.

It's not been fun to keep up with Teheran this year. I almost might have put him in the Maholm/Johnson trade (almost). But that of course would have looked like a disaster to most fans. Funny this time last year I was way down on Delgado and sky high on Teheran.

EDIT: put him in the trade INSTEAD of Vizzy, not with-- to clarify.

It's not like Teheran has never succeeded at AAA. What Teheran is going through is a new development, so it is due to changed conditions or changed performance.

That there was a change that brought him from last year being the best starting pitcher in AAA despite being the youngest to where he is now suggests that can be reversed. Unless it is an irreparable injury. From watching him, I don't think he is injured, so I think it is fixable and do not think it is near time to "jump ship."

I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for Teheren's struggles that don't involve the words "overrated prospect".

Kevin Goldstein tweeted something about Pacheco a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember his exact words but he said that he wasn't the same pitcher as the one he saw last year. He was pretty disappointed in him.

Lucas Sims got his first professional win on Saturday. He pitched 5 innings with 5 Ks, 1 BB, 1 hit and 0 ER.

Ernesto Mejia continues to rake at AAA. He is now up to 23 home runs with a line of .309/.365/.548......call him up already.

I am not exactly sure that using the term "overrated prospect" qualifies as analysis.

The Braves have released LHP Chris Masters, an 11th-round pick in 2009 who pitched quite well in the system last year. ---Kevin Goldstein via Twitter

I am frequently surprised by the guys we release. It has not been too long since Masters had been pitching quite well for us.

Even Goldstein seemed surprised.

Maybe they are making way for Wood's promotion. The pitching has been pretty great for Lynchburg (in a hitters' park) and Masters was clearly 5th in the rotation even after Graham went up to AA.

Baseball America's 2012 Minor League Tools:

International League:

Best Power Prospect: Ernesto Mejia
Fastest Baserunner: Luis Durango
Best Baserunner: Luis Durango

Southern League:

Best Control: Sean Gilmartin
Best Defensive C: Christian Bethancourt
Best Defensive 3B: Joe Leonard
Best Infield Arm: Andrelton Simmons

Carolina League:

Fastest Baserunner: Nick Ahmed
Best Defensive SS: Nick Ahmed

Bryce Harper was a minor league tool for the Nats at one point....

Might have 2 different meanings. (:

Has had a good attitude at the big league level.

Still struggling though. Since June 16th:

.209/.288/.304 (.591)
3 HR, 7 doubles, 1 triple
21/48 BB/K
.264 BABIP

---

Edited 8/9/2012 2:46 pm ET by atlsportsfan2

I posted some of this info in another thread but will post it here too.

Jose Peraza has held his own after his promotion from the GCL to Danville.

Stats so far:

GCL: .318/.348/.424 -----10 SB, 6K, 4BB
Appy: .269/.329/.328 -----9 SB, 10K, 3BB

He is doing this as the youngest member of the team. All but one of the other position players are in their 20s and he even won't turn 19 until next April.

The Danville Braves look to have some good young talent with Peraza, Lucas Sims, & Mauricio Cabrera on the roster. Carlos Perez also looks to have made big strides since his struggles of last season. His ERA/WHIP so far is 2.08/1.15.

According to a blogger that just visited this team Bobby Dews has been with the team for a week now and Frank Wren was there one day last week too. Looks like they have their eye on someone.

Must be considering the asking price of a waiver-wire trade request.

So, they're calling Mejia a "prospect" too.

It is funny that we have so few pitchers mentioned, especially no acolades for the Lynchburg staff.