NOTES, QUOTES

Posted on 2010 under Braves | Comments are off

8 Mar

--1B Troy Glaus' mastery of footwork at first base is allowing the team to breathe sighs of relief. More than a few eyebrows were raised when the Braves signed the former All-Star third baseman to hold down the fort at first base until prospect Freddie Freeman is ready for the majors. --RHP Tim Hudson threw only 15 pitches -- 10 for strikes -- to complete his two innings of work in his first spring training start March 3 against the Mets. He'll take it, but he noted realistically, "It would be awesome if it was July." Hudson threw 20 more pitches on the side afterward. --3B Chipper Jones is taking no chances that his swing is off track to begin the season: His dad, Larry Wayne Jones Sr., who has worked with his son on that swing since Chipper was a kid, came to camp when position players reported. --RHP Derek Lowe has been appointed the opening-day starter by manager Bobby Cox. Lowe did the job in that role a year ago, and Cox is superstitious enough to try it again. Not to mention that it can give Lowe's confidence a boost after hearing all winter about the Braves trying to trade him. --RHP Jair Jurrjens has finally begun throwing from a mound, with no ill effects. He was expected to have two more mound sessions before taking his start in a spring training game. --The Braves have renewed the contracts of RHP Tommy Hanson and SS Yunel Escobar. The following players have agreed to terms on one-year contracts: RHP Jair Jurrjens, RHP Kris Medlen, RHP Luis Valdez, LHP Mike Dunn, LHP Lee Hyde, LHP Eric O'Flaherty, LHP Jose Ortegano, INF Brooks Conrad, INF Diory Hernandez, INF Martin Prado and OF Jordan Schafer. The entire 40-man roster was under contract. BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Times in the same game that RF Jason Heyward raced to second base on pitches in the dirt, which is only one of the reasons he is rated baseball's No. 1 prospect. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm poised to have a bounce-back season. ... These old bones have been through a lot." -- 3B Chipper Jones.