Andruw who? One of the most underrated moves of the off-season has worked for Atlanta, where center fielder Mark Kotsay has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games, according to the Braves’ press notes.
Dating back to April 17, Kotsay, who was traded from Oakland to Atlanta in January for right-hander Joey Devine, is hitting .368 (28-for-76) with five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. His .368 ranks fourth in the majors during that span.
One-run woes: According to Elias, the Braves were one of only five teams in major league history to start a season by losing their first nine games decided by a single run. They snapped that streak on Thursday, but on Friday, dropped to 1-10 in one-run games with a 3-2 loss to the Pirates, the 15th consecutive loss for Atlanta in one-run games on the road dating back to last season.
Lefties: The Braves will throw three lefties at the Phils this week: Jo-Jo Reyes, Tom Glavine and Chuck James. According to Elias, before last week, the Braves had not started three consecutive left-handed since June 4-6, 1997, when they started Glavine, Denny Neagle and Terrell Wade.
Phillies transaction: The Phillies have traded organizational catcher Tim Gradoville to the Texas Rangers for future considerations. Gradoville began the season in Reading as a player/coach and has been in the Phillies’ system forever and ever. Gradoville was a fixture. It’s like trading the organ player.
And they just sent me to Anaheim...
Posted by: Organ Player | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 03:31 PM
With the plethora of young catchers in the Rangers system, i guess it makes sense for them to want a guy like gradoville who has the mental makeup to be a coach.
They probably want another set of eyes to watch over those young catchers so the Rangers can make a decision about who stays and who goes, as that is certainly an area of strength for them to deal from.
Posted by: mm | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Wasn't Gradoville called up in September of '06? He never made an appearance though.
Phils are making a ton of minor league moves during the season this year. One of these times one of the moves will end up being a good one.
I was down on the Mark Kotsay trade at first and even dropped him from my fantasy team...I was wrong on both accounts.
Posted by: GM-Carson | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Carson: Correct on the call-up.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Gradoville must have a strong arm. Recently Phils minor league catching instructor Mike Compton was interviewed on the R-Phils podcast and said he threw to second in 1.7-1.79. Marson was timed at 1.87 and the ML average was 2.0 Shame he didn't hit much.
Posted by: Dull | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I don't understand why the Phillies didn't give Gradoville as much as an inning in the field when he was on the big club's roster during the last couple of weeks of 2006. Too bad he didn't get into "The Book."
Does anyone know what the Rangers' plans are for Gradoville -- AAA replacement? Or what?
Posted by: davthom73 | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Speaking of catchers at the upper levels of the Phillies' minor league system, I just checked on Jason Jaramillo's stats with the AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs: 32 games; .190 BA; 116 at bats; 22 hits; 3 doubles; 3 HR's; 7 RBI's; .244 OBP; .293 slugging %; and .537 OPS. Jaramillo's poor hitting continues from Spring Training onward.
Posted by: davthom73 | Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 09:05 PM