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Talking Chop

https://www.talkingchop.com/ | 716 entries published

Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braves

Latest Entries

Spring Training evening open thread: February 23

Good evening, y’all. So, we’ve got a bit of a series going on in The Feed where we’re asking everybody to map out an All-Time Braves lineup using a grid. If you haven’t already checked it out yet, mosey on over and cast your vote in the first entry so we can get that going. […]

9 days ago | 1 read

Spring Training February 23 game thread: Braves at Orioles

The first weekend of the Grapefruit League season for the Atlanta Braves has come and gone and now we’re starting to get into the swing of things (for lack of a better term) as routine starts to set in here in the early goings. The Braves are now in Sarasota with Garrett Baumann serving as […]

9 days ago | 0 reads

How much drag will the ball have this year?

I remember a time where no one would’ve thought about this. Instead, in this timeline, we now have MLB’s own website providing charts and data: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/drag-dashboard. Let’s recap, in broad strokes: the lower the drag coefficient, the further the ball travels through the air, essentially. That has an impact on a lot of stuff in […]

MLB

9 days ago | 0 reads

Braves News: Ronald Acuna Jr., Drake Baldwin, More

On Sunday, Braves baseball finally felt back as many of the projected starters for the team were in action. Ronald Acuna Jr. was in the lead-off spot, where it was confirmed he will once again bat this season. Chris Sale looked good on the mound, and all of the starters just seemed to be excited […]

9 days ago | 0 reads

Braves’ starters look good in second Spring Training game

The first home Spring Training game started very promising for Atlanta, with the Braves’ stars looking good. Chris Sale struck out his first two batters and ended up with three strikeouts over 2.0 innings, no walks, and only one hard-hit ball in the form of a 95.9 MPH grounder. Chris Sale looked like Chris Sale […]

10 days ago | 1 read

Ronald Acuña Jr. will bat lead-off this season

The question as to where in the 2026 Atlanta Braves batting order outfielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. will hit can come to an end. Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters this morning that Acuña, Jr. will reclaim his spot at the top of the order, batting lead-off for the team this season. Despite some questionable line-up […]

MLB

10 days ago | 0 reads

Braves vs Twins Spring Training Game Thread: 2/22/26

Well today we have Atlanta’s first “home” game of 2026 Spring Training and we are treated to Chris Sale on the mound. Not only is a potential future Hall of Famer on the mound, but the Braves are rolling out what could be most of the Opening Day lineup. The only member of the likely […]

10 days ago | 0 reads

Did you know Walt Weiss earned a taekwondo black belt?

My Youtube feed is organized crime show clips, baseball, and standup comedy right now. Then on Friday, something that might combine all three shows up. Now this is retelling of a pretty well known sequence where Greg Maddux hits Jose Canseco in 2000. It’s not even that new. Pretty good stuff, though. Then Chipper Jones […]

10 days ago | 1 read

Braves News: Mike Yastrzemski, Spring Training, more

Well we officially have Braves baseball back in our lives, as Spring Training kicked off Saturday. Mike Yastrzemski had a nice debut, with a homer and a single, while bullpen candidates Hayden Harris, James Karinchak, and Dylan Dodd showed out nicely in one inning of work each. We’ll be treated to a Chris Sale start […]

11 days ago | 0 reads

Spring Training February 21 game thread: Braves at Rays

The offseason is officially over and now it’s time to get rocking and rolling. While it’s not quite the same as Opening Day and never will be on that level, it’s still lovely to either turn on the TV or fire up the radio and hear the crack of the bat and baseballs hitting leather […]

11 days ago | 1 read

Are you ready for some Braves baseball?

Major League Baseball doesn’t have a long offseason by calendar days. But man, it’s been a long one this season. It’s time for getting your nearly everyday baseball fix. Although, for the next few weeks it’s going to be more like Braves ‘n’ Friends. We’re getting Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli White, Jorge Mateo and […]

11 days ago | 2 reads

Braves News: Spring training opener, FanDuel Sports Network, and more

The wait is finally over, and the Atlanta Braves kick off play in the Grapefruit League this afternoon.  Right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been named today’s starter against the Tampa Bay Rays. After just a few games with Atlanta last season, Carrasco looks to make an impression in his spring debut. Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli […]

11 days ago | 0 reads

Spring training open thread: February 20

By this time tomorrow, the Braves will have gotten done with their first spring training game of the season. That’s pretty exciting, even if all that means is that the countdown to the Opening Day will officially be underway. Anyways, here’s hoping tomorrow goes well. The floor is now yours and here’s a random clip:

12 days ago | 1 read

Carlos Carrasco will start spring training opener for Braves

We’re officially one night’s sleep away from getting the Grapefruit League underway for the Atlanta Braves. With that being said, the team sure took their time before letting everybody know who’d be playing and most importantly, who’d be starting on the mound over in Port Charlotte against the Tampa Bay Rays. As it turns out, […]

12 days ago | 1 read

How a new entry into the 2026 MLB Draft impacts the Braves

News came out today that California prep prospect Jared Gridlinger is set to reclassify and move from the 2027 MLB Draft into the 2026 MLB Draft. Gridlinger ranked as high as No. 3 overall and No. 1 prep player in the 2027 class, and adds another premium talent into what is already a strong draft […]

12 days ago | 0 reads

How much of a Spring Training game do you watch?

I guess I could’ve worded this, “Do you actually watch Spring Training games,” too. Today marks the start of Grapefruit and Cactus League action. There are a few games against unaffiliated teams, too. But the full slate really begins tomorrow. Me, I’ll watch pretty much any MLB baseball. Though the pitch clock made it somewhat […]

MLB

12 days ago | 0 reads

Braves News: ABS challenge system, Austin Riley, and more

The Atlanta Braves got a taste of the future of umpiring this week, testing Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball Strike Challenge System during Spring Training in North Port. The system gives teams two opportunities per game to challenge a called ball or strike and forced Braves players and coaches to begin adjusting to what […]

12 days ago | 0 reads

A healthy Austin Riley could be the key that unlocks Atlanta’s lineup

The start of spring training is usually the time of year where we start to hear copious reports about [insert any baseball player you want here] being in The Best Shape of His Life heading into camp. Ronald Acuña Jr. may fall into this category after he was spotted hitting batting practice bombs at the […]

13 days ago | 0 reads

Which starting pitcher deal of this offseason should the Braves have made?

So much kvetching about the state of the rotation, which is understandable given the injury news before Spring Training games have even begun. But, let’s pivot slightly: we know the deals that have already happened. Which ones should the Braves have made? The list of signed free agent starters is here: https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/free-agent-tracker?sign=signed&pos=sp For me, the […]

13 days ago | 2 reads

MLBPA elects Bruce Meyer as interim executive director

This afternoon, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) elected Bruce Meyer as interim executive director. Meyer replaces Tony Clark, who resigned from the position earlier this week. Meyer is expected to remain in charge of the collective-bargaining negotiations for the players union with the current basic agreement expiring on December 1, 2026, according to […]

MLB

14 days ago | 1 read