3:07PM: Albies will be in a cast for three weeks but he won’t require surgery. The Braves will continue to evaluate the second baseman for his health and possible readiness for the playoffs. (MLB.com’s Mark Bowman was among those to report the news.)
8:20AM: The Braves have officially placed Albies back on the injured list, albeit the 10-day IL. To fill the vacant 28-man roster spot, Rylan Bannon has been called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. Bannon has bounced around this season, having begun the year with the Orioles before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Dodgers and then the Braves in mid-August. In 81 at-bats at the Braves’ top-level affiliate, the righty has slashed .323/.432/.477, good for a .909 OPS.
SEPTEMBER 17TH: In just his second game back since being activated off the 60-day injured list, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies suffered a fractured right pinky finger in tonight’s game against the Phillies. The injury occurred during a slide into second base in the fourth inning, and Albies was replaced by Vaughn Grissom at second base for the top of the fifth.
The severity of the injury isn’t yet known, though the fact that initial x-rays determined the problem before the game was over could indicate more than just a small fracture. It would seem like Albies’ 2022 season could be over, perhaps even if Atlanta made another run to the World Series.
Albies was a big contributor to last year’s championship team, earning his second career All-Star and Silver Slugger honors while also finishing 13th in NL MVP voting. However, Albies was off to a relatively slow start over the 2022 campaign’s first two months before he suffered a left foot fracture on June 13 and had to undergo surgery. As noted, Albies was sidelined until just yesterday, when he went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Atlanta’s 7-2 win over Philadelphia.
The Braves have managed to thrive even without Albies for much of the season, and Grissom has somewhat unexpectedly stepped up as an immediate contributor after being promoted from Double-A a little over a month ago. Grissom has hit .304/.355/.482 over his first 121 plate appearances in the majors, leading to some speculation that the Braves would try Grissom in left field in order to keep his hot bat in the lineup. However, it seems as though opposing pitchers have started to adjust to Grissom, as the rookie has only a .607 OPS over his last 67 PA.
Nevertheless, in the wake of Albies’ injury, it would seem like Grissom will now again be the top choice at second base for the remainder of the regular season and postseason. Orlando Arcia is also on hand to provide depth, and Ehire Adrianza is also on hand, but currently on the IL himself due to a quad strain. Pat Valaika, Hernan Perez, and Ryan Goins are some of the Triple-A options with MLB experience, though Atlanta could have to add any of those players to the 40-man roster.
It was less than a year ago that the Braves overcame the odds by winning the World Series despite losing a star player (Acuna) to injury for much of the season and throughout the playoffs. While the book isn’t yet closed on Albies’ possible availability in the postseason, his absence for at least a few weeks will make it harder for the Braves to overtake the Mets in the NL East, and potentially capture a first-round bye. The NL East runner-up is all but guaranteed to be the NL’s top wild card team and thus is set to host all three games (if necessary) of the Wild Card Series, yet Atlanta would obviously love to avoid those extra games and an extra chance of elimination.
Wow.
big – This is not shocking to Red Sox fans, as Chris Sale also fractured his pinky in his second game back from the 60-Day IL.
Let’s hope Albies doesn’t go “bicycle riding” too.
Frankly, Albies is not a great hitter so the bat will not be missed. However, he is a great teammate and better defensively than Grissom. Hopefully, he will be back at some point this postseason.
Grissom’s a dog defensively and he’s been terrible offensively the last 17 games after that hot start to his first 14. Braves need to play Arcia at 2B. They’ve got plenty of bats. Need that solid middle infield defense to help the staff. Btw—how do you like Acuna now?
Grissom has had more impact on the Braves than Albies has had all season (with their respective sample sizes). Grissom is limited in range compared to Albies. I’m comparing Grissom with Albies because right now the Braves are switching between them. Once they move Grissom to the outfield (which they should), I’m all for Arcia taking over 2nd. In fact, that is what the Braves will likely do knowing Albies is out for the regular season.
In my opinion if Albies is out Grissom is not heading to the outfield. He will be primary secondary baseman.
Grissom future comes 100% down to what Atlanta does with Swanson. If Swanson resigns than the infield is set and Grissom is odd man out.
Grissom instead of bumping left fielder out Grissom is probably trade bait.
No way Grissom’s the Braves SS next season if Swanson leaves. Can’t see AA letting the defense be downgraded in such an awful way at the most important position on the field.
Yeah but over his last 13 games he’s hitting .273 with an .801 OPS which is respectable.
And over his last 11 games he’s hitting .290 with an .857 OPS
See… we can play around with numbers all day to tell whatever story we want!!!
Play around w/his defensive numbers. They’re bad all the time.
.607 OPS for Grissom his last 67 ab’s in his 121 total ML ab’s. As the article notes. “pitchers have started to adjust to” him. His offense is definitely worsening. W/his sorry defense, the Braves might be better served to play Arcia at 2B. He provides solid defense and may be no worse than Grissom w/the bat now.
So when Grissom goes 4-4 tomorrow, am I also obligated to say, “how you like Grissom now?”
Sure. Go ahead. Especially if he drives in all the runs in a Braves win like Acuna just did. Two oppo homers back to back games. That knee’s getting stronger. Just in time to make up for the disappearance of Olson’s bat. Btw, don’t bet on Grissom doing that. Better chance he makes an error or tries to injure one of the of’ers because he refuses to let them catch fly balls they can reach.
Dude, he just had 1 great night out of all the terrible nights/days he had all season. Grossman had a few great nights too. If Acuna is “back”, then fantastic. The Braves need him now with Albies out.
You must have missed that 2 run homer that put them ahead 3-2 in the 8th last night. That’s 2 “great nights” in a row. Wish we had more “terrible” players like El Abusador. He’s been gutting it out all season w/a bad knee. So far from “terrible” that I have to wonder if you have any idea what the word actually means.
“Not a great hitter”? Really? How did he win two Silver Sluggers in the last three years?
That is more of a reflection how underwhelming the position is if Albies won 2/3 in the last 3 years. He is a low-OBP guy, but slightly above average hitter overall. His slugging is relatively good and probably the reason why he won the rewards, but as a pure hitter, he is not very good. Terrible discipline and terrible swing. I do not want Albies up with bases loaded and 2 outs in the WS game 7. Give me Swanson all day over any current Brave.
Does he wear an oven mitt yet? Trout will attest to the usefulness/practicality of them.
Yes he was wearing the mitt.
Haha Ok cool. I don’t catch many Braves games. That is highly unfortunate. I don’t know how it could have happened. Didn’t see it .
Jammed his pinky finger on 2B sliding. Stupid head first slides……….
Never ever been a fan of head first slides. Went my whole playing career without ever sliding head first a single time. Never regretted it once.
Same. Feet first keeps infielders honest too. They only block the bag w/a knee down once on you after a good spikes first slide.
Headfirst slides are always bad, but especially bad when done into 1B. Scientifically you will slow down and get to the bag slower by sliding instead of running. Stupid trend that needs to go away forever, along with bunting (gotta note stealing bases is fine by me, I’m not a monster).
The Braves don’t have a sac bunt yet this season. Fine w/me too. Not offended by a guy trying to bunt against an over shift as a surprise tactic.
I agree, except the unique angle advantage on some plays at 3B. Unless straight down the LF line a ball thrown to 3B is coming in from across the field to some degree. The third baseman is setting up and that gives the runner the possibility to target one corner of the base with a headfirst slide. Feet first slides are almost always started on the same leg by the runner. Although if the ball beats you I’d prefer feet first at any base.
Trumbo – I agree head first slides are more dangerous, but they do provide a greater chance of being safe on a close play. You can maneuver your hands to avoid the tag a lot better than you can with your feet.
I feel like the difference is negligible. Speaking from a risk-benefit standpoint I say feet first all day. Let the players slide how they want. The more head first slide injuries the more sheepish players will be about going head first though. It is difficult as well to manuever a head first slide as well. You can’t always control it. Hand position etc. It’s blind instinct most of the time and you just go down and stick your hand out and hope you don’t get your hand stepped on or plunked in the head. Both instances suck.
Why isn’t it called a hand-first slide? Just wondering…
Sherm – Why is a ball hit off a foul pole called fair?
Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
Why do we call it an escalator or elevator when it’s going down?
Why are some pound cakes just 12 ounces?
Why are two people sometimes described as alone together?
How is it possible to be awfully nice?
@NashvilleJeff bunting to beat the shift doesnt even work out a lot of the time. As an A’s fan, I can tell you an elite 3B like Matt Chapman is making that play regardless of where he starts off.
I have no idea why we ask these players to create the most complicated hitting mechanics ever, then say at the last minute go “Yeah, do this thing you never practice and likely will break your finger if you do it wrong instead of hitting, that thing you spend like, ALL your time practicing!” so dumb.
Ban bunting, ban sliding into 1B. Make MLB truly incredible.
A’s fan: So, I said I didn’t mind using a bunt to beat the shift as a surprise tactic. Didn’t advocate bunting for hits as a regular part of a hitter’s approach or sacrifice bunting. A well placed bunt can, however, be used to seed some doubt for lh hitters who face the biggest shifts. Matt Chapman also isn’t fielding a dribbler up the 3rd base line if he’s playing at the normal SS position in an overshift. Your statement that he “is making that play regardless of where he starts off” isn’t accurate. Why ban anything a player can do w/a bat in his hand that might give him an advantage—unless it’s hitting another player w/it.
This comment made my night, lol.
@NashvilleJeff, Ozzie was wearing a mitt on his left hand but not on his right hand. I think Chip and Jeff were right when they said Segura may have stepped on Ozzie’s hand or at least that finger. It looked like his foot came down right where Ozzie’s hand was and you could see him move his foot back.
I’ll watch the replay, but think he was wearing it on both hands.
So after watching it again, you’re right fabulous. The red glove on his right hand was his batting glove. The mitt was the blue glove on his left hand.
which hand did he have the mitten on?
I say stick em on both hands
He had it on his left hand unfortunately. TV couldn’t tell but his mitt hit the base and his right hand either got stepped on or he ran it into 2bman’s foot.
Yep. That’s right.
No idea why it triple post me now
And now the 2 extra are gone. Weird.
Does that a lot on here. Annoying.
Phillies lifer here, but man that blows for Albies. Cannot stand when players go out like this…all the well wishes sir!
Class act by you cpdpoet. Always said that Phils fans are worlds better than Mutts fans. Von Hayes is one of the best on here. I’m a Braves lifer.
TY…..for some reason Phils fans, although we have done some serious dumb stuff, always get the back end of this discussion.
For anything people say Philly fans have done, you can pull up even more egregious AND violent stuff from other fan bases…..
And for those that purport the “original sin” Santa Story, it happened over 50 yrs ago and read what actually happened….
Always had a soft spot for the Braves, not sure why….Maybe a Horner/Burroughs thing that morphed into Dale Murphy and then those pitchers….whew.
LA, Cincy, Mets no love. then, none now…
Hopes for a full recovery for Albies…
I grew up in Atlanta in the late 60’s/early 70’s about 15 minutes away from the Launching Pad, Atlanta Fulton Co Stadium, the Braves/Falcons original home. Always liked going to Braves games when they played Philly, Dodgers, Cubs, Pirates, and the Expos the most. I haven’t seen a Phils fan on this site act the ugly way some of the Mets trolls here (Metsfan22 and Books) do.
To be fair, some of my fellow Braves fans aren’t always “on their best behavior” either, lol. Think the Phils have a chance to be better than I wish they would over the next few years. Should be a helluva good dogfight between the Braves, Phils, and Mets over the next several years.
No even a upgrade. Shouldn’t be a excuse when the Mets win the division.
Try “an” instead of “a.” “An upgrade. “An excuse.” “Not” is also a word. Just saying………..
I studied at the university of duke. I think I know how to spell lol.
Looks like you studied at the University of Suck
You mean Duke University? So you can spell, but don’t understand usage. Got it. Troll on.
He means the University of Duke Silver. He can’t write for nothing but he can play a mean saxophone.
Having a bad day troll? Ban hammer coming for you. The site is starting to view trolls like you as a needless distraction from the decent folks here who really want to talk about baseball. Don’t waste your time w/your childish drivel. I don’t like messing up comment threads by muting idiots on here, but I’ll make an exception for you.
You barely gradumatated at the bottom of your class it seems.
My comment looks odd now because the moron I flagged had his comment removed by the mods.
Like I said before: the problem with the bases isn’t the size, it’s the hard rubber composition, which players and managers have been complaining about for years — so of course the geniuses at MLB will just make them bigger.
What’s up with those Burlap Sacks you were talkin about Fink?!?! We need em now…
That’s what Buck Showalter said, way back when.
So you want to make something the players have to step on, often at speed, unstable? That would take out knees and ankles with frequency. You could outlaw sliding head first. Of course there would be outs left and right on the bases.
Plenty of players have been injured by slamming into or sliding off the hard, slick surface of MLB’s bases. Here’s one notorious example:
twitter.com/i/status/896559047775834118
My cousin goes on his mission today
Joey Gallo, come again..?
Sounds ominous. I heard that kind of talk in the movie Zero Dark Thirty.
I like basketball
Anyone check Grissom’s locker for a Jobu doll?
Under rated comment. You get a thumbs up from me. Braves fans can use a laugh after this tough Ozzie news.
It very bad to steal Jobu’s rum…..VERY bad…
Clearly, Albies took Jobu’s rum. 😉
Yawn
Walker Buehler is this year’s Ronald Acuna Jr, sorry.
Announce Phillies playoff spot claimed off waivers by Milwaukee.
Some really funny comments in this thread. That’s hilarious Dark.
Well, that was quick.
That sucks for him
Who care about Arbie ♂️♂️♂️
Daaahaam
I’m just saying
Hang in there dog
More rubbish written here about Albies by a so called Braves fan. The guy who reckons “Acuna is overrated” and “Bumgarnerequals NLCS”, amongst his 500 usernames. He is actually a Mets fan and a Braves troll.
So Jay Jackson will come straight back onto the roster now that Ozzie has a broken pinky. It looked to me like Segura really tagged his hand hard and kept pressure on it, however of course I can’t be sure how Ozzie sustained it.
It is such a shame because the Braves are definitely far weaker without him, today was a prime example, he came up with a clutch hit to get on with 2 strikes on him, that ended up being huge in the context of the result, and he also walked, he’s a huge loss. Grissom is very good but he obviously doesn’t have the hardened experience, Adrianza and Arcia should also get some game time.
I also don’t know how you can talk about Ozuna and Rosario in a really negative way, both of them have not had consistent playing time, both of them need regular AB’s. Anyone that thinks it’s just so easy to go up and hit when you don’t play for days at a time just hasn’t got a clue, and in Rosario’s and Ozuna’s case both of them have not had regular consistent AB’s day in and day out. Imagine if Ozuna or Rosario were Olson, you’d be calling for them to be off the roster like you do with Ozuna, and Olson has played everyday. 4 for his last 46 in September, hopefully he will climb out of it soon. Ozuna was 7- for his last 25 with a double and a home run and started to show some light, then he goes 0-7 and he gets benched again. I know it’s impossible to fit them all in, especially whilst Contreras has come up with some very good clutch hitting. This series against the Phillies is huge, and so also will it be when we go there and have to play 4, along with the Mets series that could decide things. Albies is a huge loss.
“He is actually a Mets fan and a Braves troll.”
He is 100% not a Mets fan. He’s been ripping the Mets all season for being ‘lucky’ and never misses an opportunity to troll the Mets.
You’re right rct. He’s a Braves fan. An extremely misguided and confused one at times, but he’s no Met fan.
According to mark bowman ozzie is out for the rest of the regular season. He has a cast on the injured finger now.
If he misses more than one game then he needs to retire. I broke my ring finger on my left hand when I played college baseball and I didn’t miss a game.
I broke my left index finger on my throwing hand (metacarpal fracture). Freak accident while using two hands to catch a pop up during infield before a game. The pain was intense. I played the rest of the game somehow but couldn’t throw worth beans. It was impossible/hurt too bad. Doc said 3 months to heal plus needed a constant splint. I did not use a splint and was miraculously throwing against his advisement 2 weeks later. A pinky break, he might not be able to even grip a bat. Your pinky is your strongest grip finger. It could be intensely painful and just flat out impossible for him to do anything with it. I don’t know about throwing, but I guarantee that man won’t be able to grip a bat for a few weeks.
And I’m the new king of England.
Like I said on the other Albies article, he should have never came back. The lesson here is to listen to what I say or people get hurt
Learn to steal feet 1st!
I was a H.S. and College speedster and sliding foot extended got me there quicker and protected my hands. And SS & 2b don’t block bases with an extended cleat flying into the base.
Looking at previous comments I completely disagree with not bunting. It’s shameful only a couple players on every MLB team can put down a bunt and I for one love bunts and base stealing. Losing Albies is tough but look what the Braves did last year almost entirely without Acuna. Bannon is a interesting choice with little MLB experience but is obviously the hottest MILB hitter right now. I would have liked to seen Hernan Perez or Valaika or Goins basically in that order called up.
I’ll say this one more time, lol. I’m ok w/the occasional surprise bunt up the 3rd base line by a left handed hitter who’s trying to get some relief from the extreme overshift, but I don’t advocate using sac bunts. Why waste outs? Bad business to do that. Only exception might be the home team sac bunting a man to 3B in the “ghost runner” garbage of extra innings. Would also only do that if the road team failed to score in the top of the inning. Otherwise, save the outs and hit away.
I agree Nashville. What I meant is when the game is on the line and there’s a runner in scoring position I think it’s horrid only a 1-3 guys a team actually have the skill to law a bunt down.
Freddie the Merc, nobody loves the bunt more than I do. Sadly, I just think the art is too far lost. I can’t emphasize “sadly” enough. You gotta learn when you are young. I learned and was taught profusely in little league. Although, all through HS I used to go down to the cages, stand about 10 feet away from the arm in the 90 cage, and practice laying down bunts till I could have done it blind folded. I don’t think anyone still does that drill haha But I only knew ONE other player who practiced bunting like I did/who was equally as comfortable laying one down. Just a lost art. I remember reading about a year ago that the batting average on attempted bunts for hits for around .450. Pretty significant.
**was** around .450
TrumboJumbo;
I mentioned the other day that Cedric Mullians is a very good bunter. Watched Andrés Giménez drag a bunt for a hit the other day.
The best bunt I ever witnessed was by Vada Pinson when he was with the Indians. One bank of lights went off at a critical point late in a game with the Tigers in Cleveland at the deteriorating Municipal Stadium. I was sitting behind the Tigers dugout. Billy Martin was managing the Tigers. Play was stopped for what turned out to be 15 minutes. All that time Billy was good naturedly looking up at the executive suite and accusing GM Gabe Paul not paying the light bill, so the electric company turned off their power. All the Tigers on the field were standing around not knowing how long the delay would be. Suddenly the lights came on and play resumed.
On the very first pitch Vada dropped a bunt 12-15 feet up the 3B line. No one in the park was ready for that. The 3B and pitcher didn’t move. Everyone started laughing, and the fans started cheering. Standing on 1B Vada stared into the Tigers dugout smiling and Billy – laughing – stood up and tipped his cap to him.
scores.nbcsports.com/mlb/getleaders.asp?rank=019
Thats what I’m talkin about!!!!!! Haha Nice!! These days they are always taken off guard by the few well timed, well placed bunts that I see. Thats just it though. If players hardly ever bunt, they are gonna be pretty shoddy reacting to them once someone does lay one down. Fletch on the Angels laid down 2 beauties the other night with his messed up hand and all. I figure in a few more years the bunt will be a Dodo. They might even ban it for kicks.
Sam P.S.
Best bunter I ever saw was Juan Pierre.
Brett Butler could really lay one down. Excellent drag bunter w/speed.
I actually saw this play live and I have to tell you albies is a fool. First of all he never should have went and second of all he should of had a mitten on if hes gonna slide in face first.. If Im the Braves I would refuse to pay him while he is out. Cant understand why u cant play through a pinky injury anyway but Im not surprised either. These guys are babies.
This is the most idiotic post I have seen here! Trying to rewrite history after the fact by saying he should have worn a sliding mitt? And, then to say the Braves should not pay him? If you cannot understand why a middle infielder can’t play with a fractured finger on his throwing hand clearly shows you do NOT know baseball.
Also, who doesn’t like to see a guy w/speed hustling for a base on a fly ball. Heads up baseball, nothing foolish about it. Btw Yappi, you misspelled your first name. Think you meant it to say “Stupid.” I have no doubt that you really “cant understand.” Yeesh……….
Back in my day “the 90s”. Players didn’t go on the DL because they broke a finger. The just put a Metallica CD in their Walkman to amp themselves up and ripped that finger off. Then they grew a new finger with the help of science.
That’s why Barry bonds neck was so large. He was a selfless person that grew replacement parts for players earning less. His neck was basically the patron saint of pitching elbows.
His bones are apparently made of chalk.