Who is Dave Sappelt and why is he leading off for the Cubs?

Nice Start for Minor.

Never heard of Sappelt, Cubs lineup looking exceptionally weak.

Well that ball was crushed.

Gattis 3 hits, no big deal.

You can tell the current scouting report is to try and get the fastball in on him. Problem is he's strong as an ox so he can really hit the ball hard the other way with that inside-out swing he takes at times.

Laird starting tomorrow with Teheran on the hill, which makes sense. Other than that I'd like to see Gattis get a majority of the starts until Mac gets back. No reason not to as Laird isn't going to be anything more than a backup anyways.

Can't help to think that with just the fact that Gattis is able to defensively handle the catcher position that this will likely be McCann's last year. Anything can happen, but we aren't going to spend money on a catcher if we think Gattis can handle it.

Love winning the Friday game of a series.

Do you guys think Brian McCann will be extended?

I hope he gets an extension. But I think the front office is waiting to decide to see how he comes back post-injury. I just hope he comes back and rakes!

I thought it was nice that McCann caught Chipper's first pitch on opening day, means he really buys into what Braves baseball means to the area.

...and I'm obviously as excited as anyone with what Gattis has done so far, just wondering

Pretty sure we can't even afford McCann. Maybe for a year, but Freeman, Heyward, Kimbrel, Medlen, Minor are about to get expensive while both Uptons make more next year and we still have Dan. Even losing Huddy and Maholm's salary won't help enough esp in 2015 when those aforementioned guys are making good money through arbitration.

I don't think it's smart to give a 30+ year old catcher a lot of years and money, and in our particular financial situation I'm not sure it's even possible. Meanwhile, McCann will get a great offer from an AL team if he reaches FA. I just don't see how we can possibly come close enough to whatever offer he gets to make him even want to stay.

On the other hand Gattis will cost around $500k. I just don't see how McCann fits unless we can extend a younger guy now for under market for the next few years.

No way McCann is here next season imo

And to be frank my ideal situation would be for McCann to be extended for another 2 years, him to get back to his old ways, and us flip Gattis for something great.

As hard as I'm rooting for the above, it just doesn't seem possible.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Teheran's start today, I have a feeling this is going to be a breakout year for him.

I got a feeling 4 run leads aren't going to be safe against the Bravos.

This is going to be a fun season.

UPTON AND UPTON GOAT

Love the Uptons

Love Jim and Don

Love the Braves

Love baseball, love it on the radio, love the technology to listen anywhere in the 48 continental states and Canada. Well, world if you include internet.

wow

First game attended this year. Bink. Just plain crazy.

This is gonna be a fun year. As has been said.

Justin Upton is so strong. My goodness. Passed out before the game ended, sad panda

uh, can i change my teheran cy young prediction to .... uh..... maholm?

Freeman to the DL with an oblique strain. Ughhhh.

Simmons banged up too. I assume he's day-to-day? Wasn't keeping up with twitter yesterday.

Ya, saw that Freeman was placed on the 15 day disabled list when I checked my fantasy team today. Now we will get to see both Chris J and Juan Fran on a daily basis and maybe one of them will breakout and win the everyday 3B job for the future.

*can't say that I've ever been too confident in Juan's 3B defense though... always appears a little shakey during the games I watch.

AJC guy says Freeman is pissed bc they didn't talk to him about it and just told him when he came in this morning. He wanted to play through it apparently.

That sucks.

Gattis batting cleanup today though so there's that