has bethancourt leveled off as a prospect?

Bethancourt just keeps improving every year. He's always had all the tools in the world but started off extremely raw and the Braves have always been pretty aggressive with him in terms of moving him up levels so he's kind of been a little over matched most of the time. He's still only 22.

With that said, after a very slow start at AAA this season he's hit .324/.351 over the last month with decent pop. Honestly, in another year or so this kid could be the #1 catching prospect in baseball and might just supplant El Oso out of sheer force of will by the end of 2015. I am not even kidding.

It's very possible, however, that he could be used as trade bait, which would make me a very sad panda. I feel like he's on the cusp of putting it all together, which is also why I wouldn't be happy if we just plugged him in as the backup C next season (Laird and Doumit will be gone). He needs as many reps as possible.

Also, from 2012-

boom, gimme some

Nice... well done.

Wait, how the hell does Chris Johnson only have 27 ABs against LH pitchers this season? No wonder his numbers are down.

Wtf challenge

I wouldn't be surprised if that was Pastornicky's cover there on the SB attempt. Jesus he's awful at defense. The memories of him playing SS a few years ago make me shudder.

Oh **** La Stella hit a HR tonight. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WREN WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US

Pretty sure i've never seen such epic rungood by one team in my life.

Oh, and great range there CJ, as always.

luis avilan is really getting destroyed this year.

16 innings pitched, 9 runs, 21 hits

Looks like today is the day. La Stella moving on up

I'm leaving work early today and getting ****faced with joy

I might shed happy tears

Yes! This can only improve the team. There's a void at second that none of the current guys can fill. This team needs a contact hitter with all the strikeout kings here. Now designate Uggla so he can refuse and release him in ten days and be done with it.

YESYESYESYESYESEFISE:JIOSEJFW#FJP:EWEIJLSDJFLSDJFS DKJ

Uggla not being released NONONONONONOFNAOIWSENF;ASNF

Seriously what's the difference between keeping a worthless Uggla on the roster while paying him 22mil and releasing a worthless Uggla and paying him 22mil? Is Wren hoping a desperate team picks him up at the trade deadline? Would the 22mil have to be paid in one lump sum which we can't do or something? wtf?

any of you guys wanna meet at the cheetah tonight to celebrate?

or maybe at least mardi gras?

Let's just meet at the perimeter center taco Mac at 730

Wow can't believe the Braves 2B collectively have hit .165 this season. That is just beyond atrocious and unsustainable. I remember when guys like Smoltz and Maddux would hit .200

Why would another team take on UGGLA for even 1/10 of his salary? Maybe if he played good defense and brought something else to the table but geez it really looks like the team is gonna have to eat $22M. The baseball decision then becomes whether Uggla > Pastornicky as a backup infielder regardless of salary which sadly is a yes.

If that happens I hope Uggla doesnt Sad Panda it everywhere and bring down everyone else. Some of those guys seemed genuinely surprised/angry that Uggla wasnt on the playoff roster last season.

Maybe they have insurance on him and they're hoping he'll hurt himself in the locker room.

Sooooooo happy La Stella got the call!

I live 10 min away in east cobb

lol that missed popup was amazing. wtf at both BJ and La Stella.

And then obv the Braves lose a 50/50 call at first with Ortiz.

And then obv BOS gets the 2 out, run scoring single.

Such a Barves thing to do to lose 4 against a team that had lost 10 straight coming in.

LaStella 2 hits in 4 at-bats.

Uggla has 2 hits over last 23 official at-bats.

Easy game.

lol man being a braves fan sucks so bad sometimes. this team really has a hard time scoring runs that dont come by the way of home run. which is really really bad come postseason when you are facing quality pitching for the most part. sigh

Heyward
La Stella
JUp
Freeman
Gattis
who cares

or

La Stella
JUp
Freeman
Gattis
Heyward
who cares

Please?