ATLANTA -- When choosing between Tyler Pastornicky and Andrelton Simmons
in spring training, the Braves said they opted for the more polished
offensive player when Pastornicky was named the starting shortstop.
.
Now its time for the better defensive player.
Simmons is expected to make his debut as the Braves starter when the
team opens a series at Washington on Friday night.
Simmons, regarded as one of baseballs top defensive shortstop prospects,
was called up after Wednesday nights win over St. Louis. Pastornicky
was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.
The 22-year-old Simmons almost beat out Pastornicky this spring. The
native of Curacao hit .292 at Double-A Mississippi this year, showing he
can do more than play strong defence.
Pastornicky already has seven errors and cant match Simmons range or
exceptionally strong arm.
.J. -- Darrelle Revis is fully recovered from a concussion and will
play for the New York Jets after practicing fully for the second
straight day.
.
The New Westminster, B.C., native took another round of early batting
practice Tuesday, his 31st birthday, to test his sore left wrist and
reported no problems.
.
The New Westminster, B.C., native took another round of early batting
practice Tuesday, his 31st birthday, to test his sore left wrist and
reported no problems.
.
Manager Ron Roenicke said before Tuesday nights game against St. Louis
that Francisco Rodriguez will be handling ninth-inning duties while
Axford, from Simcoe, Ont.
. 8 West Virginia turned their first trip to Texas into a rollicking
Wild West drama.TORONTO -- Ecuador forward Joao Plata appears to have
Toronto FC in his rear-view mirror. The MLS club, however, insists that
he remains in the fold, although he could be headed out for a loan
spell.
A Plata tweet Saturday night suggested the five-foot-two, 135-pound
speedster was on the move.
"It has been a pleasure playin 4 Toronto FC. I want 2 give much thanks n
luv 2 the fans 4 all the support during my time here. Love Plata!!"
said the tweet.
During halftime of Saturday nights 1-1 tie with the New York Red Bulls,
Earl Cochrane, the teams director of team and player operations, told
reporters that Plata "today is a Toronto FC player."
But he said the team has taken calls about the 20-year-old Plata, from
clubs in Ecuador and Mexico.
"Weve toyed with the idea and were continuing to think about whether we
loan him out," he said.
"The fact that weve got some depth in that position allows us to even
entertain this," he added.
A club spokesman, reacting to the Plata tweet, said after the game that
Cochranes assessment remains the club line.
Plata has two more years on his MLS contract and Cochrane called him a
"great asset" that the team does not want to lose.
"Loaning him out would allow him to go and continue developmment but it
would free up some space for us to get a player who we probably think we
would need more," said Cochrane. .
Toronto FC has spoken about the need to beef up its defence.
Plata, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has seemingly
fallen out of favour recently
The leading scorer at the MLS Combine in 2011, his lack of size appeared
to scare many clubs off. But Toronto sent the Chicago Fire a player to
be named later for the 49th overall pick to grab Plata and the
diminutive winger rewarded them with some electric runs at goal.
He has three goals and five assists in 36 games over two seasons and
became a fan favourite.
Toronto coach Paul Mariner, at his post-game news conference, was
clearly annoyed that Plata seemed to be dispensing news himself rather
than allowing the club to take the lead.
"I love that when 19-year-old kids come in and tell the press whats
going on," he said sarcastically of Plata, who is actually 20. "Isnt
that a wonderful situation for me to be in?"
Cochrane, meanwhile, said there was nothing to report on veteran Italian
defender Alessandro Nesta other than he was a player whom they had
discussed internally. Earlier in the week, Mariner called Nesta "one of
our targets."
'
'
'
