Three Cuts: The kids are alright, Ender Inciarte making run at Braves history
Taking three cuts after a week in which Ender Inciarte and new dad Freddie Freeman stayed hot, and the Braves' enviable farm system added some hardware for the trophy case.
The Braves are already putting the crown jewel of their farm system on display on an everyday basis with Dansby Swanson manning shortstop in Atlanta, but as if anyone needed a reminder of how deep Atlanta is in the lower levels ...
• The Single-A Rome Braves claimed a South Atlantic League crown behind a career-high 13 strikeouts from 11th-ranked prospect Max Fried, who missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery and could be in the rotation discussion next spring. That was his fourth straight start with double-digit Ks, a single-game team record. As colleague Zach Dillard tweeted of an absolutely loaded Rome rotation of Fried, Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka and Touki Toussaint:
It was Rome's first title since 2003, the team's first season.
Postseason numbers for @TheRomeBraves’ starting rotation of Soroka/Allard/Fried/Toussaint ???
— Zach Dillard (@Zach_Dillard) September 17, 2016
49.1 innings
0.73 ERA
50 strikeouts
8 walks
• Double-A Mississippi was swept in the Southern League championship series by Jackson, and starter Patrick Weigel -- the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year -- didn't make it out of the first inning. But he ended the regular season with a 2.47 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 25 games, a stunning development for the seventh-round pick in 2015, and Dustin Peterson - - the Braves' Minor League Player of the Year -- homered and had three singles in the final game to cap a year with a .282/.343/.431 slash line, 12 homers and 38 doubles.
• The Triple-A Gwinnett Braves dropped the International League Governor's Cup series to Scranton/Wiles-Barre, but amid those losses was (yes there's a trend here) some outstanding pitching. Aaron Blair, who has had his issues at the MLB level with an 8.23 ERA in 12 starts, threw 7 1/3 innings with four runs and six hits allowed; Chris Ellis didn't allow a hit through six innings before he was pulled after 104 pitches; and Rob Wooten fanned a career-high eight in five innings.
Right-hander Tyrell Jenkins rejoined the Braves after that series, as did utility man Emilio Bonifacio, and third baseman Rio Ruiz, who could challenge Adonis Garcia for playing time next season.
As Jonathan Schuerholz, assistant director of player development, said back in December, "We've got a tremendous amount of responsibility in the minor leagues in our player development to produce major-league caliber players to win at a championship level. That's what we want to harp on is we're not just building big leaguers, we're building championship-caliber big leaguers, and it's not done overnight."
"There's nothing like that first call." -- @ruiz_rio on getting his first MLB call-up with @Braves, expectations. pic.twitter.com/cDlgNHP8dT
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) September 18, 2016
From that end, putting three teams in position to win titles, and having one deliver, would seem very much in line with that mission. It's one thing to have an offseason where the maneuvers of the farm system are lauded, but these results should truly have Braves fans excited about what's to come.
After going 1 for 3 in Sunday's twice rain-delayed 6-2 win over the Nationals, Ender Inciarte 's red-hot second half has him with an MLB-best 88 hits since the All-Star break.
Per Baseball-Ref's Play Index, he is just three away from the 91 that Chipper Jones had in 2007 and Andruw Jones in '00. With 13 games to go, Inciarte has some work to do to catch Terry Pendelton, who has the record for most hits since the franchise's move to Atlanta in 1966 as he had 106 second-half hits in his 1991 MVP season.
Eighteen hits may be tough, but considering Inciarte has four multi-hit games in the last six outings, he could make it interesting. There's also this: against the Braves' next three opponents, the Mets, Marlins and Phillies, he's tagged them for 36 hits and a collective .264 average. He has one hit in one at-bat against the Braves' final opponent, the Tigers.
With a third-inning single Sunday off Joe Ross, Freddie Freeman extended his hist streak to 22 straight games, and these days, he's no doubt dealing with an added challenge.
Overcoming sleep deprivation.
Freeman's wife Chelsea gave birth to Frederick Charles Freeman II on Thursday, and while Freddie I returned to the lineup on Saturday, he would tell reporters before Sunday's series finale "I don't know if I was really back out there ... I could hardly keep my eyes open, but it was nice to put a uniform on."
From a personal standpoint, it's already been a largely unforgettable season for Freeman, who is enjoying arguably his best season. Despite a difficult start, he has career highs in home runs (30) and slugging percentage (.557) and with 40 doubles, is four from equaling his best from 2014, and he's done it all while playing in 146 games.
Fifth in the MVP voting in 2013, there's a very real chance that Freeman -- who went 2 for 3 in the finale vs. the Nationals with an RBI and a walk and is hitting .297 with a .394 on-base percentage -- can challenge that standing despite the Braves' overall struggles.
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His book, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' is out now, and 'The Heisman Trophy: The Story of an American Icon and Its Winners' will be released Nov. 22, 2016.
Wrapped around momma's finger...Welcome to the world Frederick Charles Freeman II... "Charlie" pic.twitter.com/kXjGk0fusV
— Chelsea Freeman (@chelseafree5) September 16, 2016
Make that 22 straight with a hit for Freddie Freeman. @Braves pic.twitter.com/qVTsOOuv6O
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) September 18, 2016
