M-Braves Offseason Mailbag
This will be the first of a series of offseason M-Braves mailbags geared to answering fan questions regarding the Mississippi Braves or the Atlanta Braves. With the World Series in the rearview mirror and the Baseball Winter Meetings just over a month away, everyone in Major and Minor League Baseball
This will be the first of a series of offseason M-Braves mailbags geared to answering fan questions regarding the Mississippi Braves or the Atlanta Braves. With the World Series in the rearview mirror and the Baseball Winter Meetings just over a month away, everyone in Major and Minor League Baseball is preparing for the 2019 season.
Thanks for the question, John. Last season, Mississippi saw 12 of the current top 30 prospects for the Braves according to MLB Pipeline and I think that is conceivable again in 2019. OF
Expect to see that next wave of outstanding Braves starting pitchers begin 2019 in Mississippi with 20-year-old right-hander
Joining Pache in a crowded outfield could be #8 overall prospect
The younger brother of former Southern Leaguer and Cubs catcher
For fun, a potential 2019 lineup could look like this:
CF Pache
2B Salazar
RF Neslony
1B Marlette
LF Waters
SS Didder
C Contreras
3B Lockhart/Valenzuela
P Anderson/Muller/Wentz/Sanchez/Mader
DONE!
Well, I would not be the one making that final decision, but Bark in the Park is always fun. Biloxi and Montgomery had dedicated days of the week to Bark in the Park in 2018, so there is definitely a demand for it. This will be something that will be discussed and I would encourage anyone with ideas to share them with us. Why not have pup be a full-time bat boy?
Hi Andy, the Braves have not disclosed his injury, but Matt was with the club at the beginning of the season and even pitched well in spring training. The older brother of Chris Withrow, Matt missed two months in 2017 with what was listed as an ankle contusion. He's experienced some tough luck on the injury front and hopefully, once healthy, the big right-hander can get back on the path to being a prospect. The Braves drafted Withrow the same year they acquired his brother in 2016, out of Texas Tech.
I am glad someone asked about the newest Minor League baseball moniker and logo. First off, congratulations to the fine folks of the Tennessee Valley on what has been an extremely successful rollout of a new team and logo. Having been a part of this process with Biloxi in 2015, it's not easy to create a new identity. Not opening until 2020 gives them time to make sure everything is in place.
Madison, a suburb of Huntsville will be the new home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, which will become the Double-A, Southern League affiliate of the Angels after the 2019 season. The Mobile BayBears were sold to BallCorps LLC last year with the intention of relocating to North Alabama. With the help of the talented folks at Brandiose, they unveiled logos the past week and most everyone had an opinion. I am somewhere in the middle on this new phenomenon of creating new, "unique" branding for Minor League teams. It was in 2017 when Jacksonville rebranded from the Suns to Jumbo Shrimp and caused a change.org petition to be created that garnered over 10,000 signatures. However, the overall success of the rebranding efforts have been well documented. Since 2014, we've seen these club names come into existence: El Paso Chihuahuas, New Orleans Baby Cakes, Gwinnett Stripers, Akron Rubber Ducks, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Hartford Yard Goats, Biloxi Shuckers, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Down East Wood Ducks, Daytona Tortugas, Florida Fire Frogs, Tampa Tarpons and Vermont Lake Monsters. The new teams in Amarillo, TX, and Fayetteville, NC don't yet have names, but I am sure they will be doozies.
They are lighting up social media right now and yes, they have an online store that is open. Not set to start until 2020, they are creating a lot of momentum right now.
But, to answer your question. You never know. Gwinnett surprised everyone with their rebranding from the Braves to the Stripers in 2017. The 2019 season will be the 15th season in Pearl and different names have even been talked about within the office. Mostly in jest and not serious, but something like the Mississippi Mudbugs, Mississippi Blues (Elvis was born in Tupelo), even Mississippi Potholes, which needs no explanation.
As always, if you have any questions for the next Mailbag tweet @mbraves or @charris731! Have a great week!