All Things Bubba

Janish triples (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Janish has proven to be key addition for Braves

SAN DIEGO – When rookie shortstop sensation Andrelton Simmons broke a bone in his throwing hand in the last game before the All-Star break, the Braves figured to take a significant step back defensively until he returned.

Who would’ve thought a trade for a 29-year-old Triple-A shortstop could so effectively fill the defensive void? But it did.

Paul Janish had one error in 188 defensive chances for Atlanta before Monday and led National League shortstops with a .995 fielding percentage since the All-Star break. Janish has started 42 of 43 games since coming over from the Reds organization in a July 14 trade for minor league pitcher Todd Redmond.

“Our scouts did a terrific job getting Yonny,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “If we didn’t have him, I just can’t see another guy out there filling the position the way he’s filled it for us. Not without giving up big-time people. We gave up a young pitcher. [Redmond] is a journeyman right-hander and we give him up for this guy – man, oh man, that’s a pretty good trade.”

Andrelton Simmons is expected to be activated off the DL the second week of September.

Whether or not Janish reverts to a backup role as soon as Simmons returns, Gonzalez said he’s “absolutely” done enough to warrant consideration for a Braves utility job next season. Janish played primarily shortstop for nine seasons in the Reds organization, but has experience at second and third base.

I gotta think Simmons will taking over the starting role, unless the effects of his injury linger. But it sounds like the Braves want to keep Janish on the roster - not just this year, but next.

There's also this article, from MLB.com:

Reliable Janish a valuable asset for Braves

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Braves did not necessarily create much of a stir July 14 when they acquired Paul Janish from the Reds to serve as their starting shortstop while Andrelton Simmons was sidelined with a fractured right pinkie finger.

But Janish has made the most of his opportunity and positioned himself to begin the 2013 season as one of Atlanta's backup infielders. He has proven to be a skilled defensive asset and also provided some offensive contributions that the Braves were not expecting.

It has some quotes from Janish.

Janish hit a triple on Sunday, and reached on an error tonight, but hasn't hit much otherwise. (The Braves as a whole seem to be in a bit of a slump.)

I'd like to see Janish show more patience at the plate. His walk rate has fallen off lately.

Labels: Paul Janish

Nice article here, about how much the Braves appreciate what Paul Janish has some for them, with the glove and with the stick.

Andrelton Simmons is now not expected to return until mid-September, so Janish will be the starting shortstop until then. Looks like his roster spot is safe until rosters expand Sept. 1. Though I think it was safe, anyway. He's played so well I can't see them sending him down to Gwinnett, even for a few days.

Braves lost tonight, but Janish hit well enough. 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. After a bit of a slow start, he's been on fire lately.

Labels: Paul Janish

Paul Janish had a great night. Player of the game, at least in my estimate. My favorite headline:

Janish makes Dodgers vanish

He got two clutch hits late in the game, that led to the Braves tying the game in the 8th, then winning the game in the 11th. He ended up 3 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base, on a night when the Braves struggled to get any hits at all. (For most of the game, Janish had half the team's hits.) Not to mention some great defensive plays.

There's a bunch of quotes here, including some from Janish's teammates about him, and some from him.

Some fans expressed doubt about whether Janish was worth the $850,000 deal he got last winter. He's definitely been worth it for the Braves. According to Fangraphs, Janish has been worth $1.3 million in the month he's been a Brave. A bargain, especially since the Braves are likely paying only half his salary.

Labels: Paul Janish

Tony Cingrani is garnering more and more attention.

Reds' Cingrani a steal

Cingrani had 15 strikeouts over eight innings against Jackson on June 27 in his fifth start for the Blue Wahoos after his promotion from Class A Advanced Bakersfield and has been putting up eye-catching numbers ever since signing with the Reds.

It's hard to believe this is the same pitcher who saw little action as a junior at Rice University after transferring from a junior college. He struggled at the start of his senior year as well before moving to the bullpen.

Cingrani racks up 10 K's for Wahoos

Tony Cingrani may not have a win to show for his efforts Wednesday, but he continued to show that his dominant season is no fluke.

The Reds' No. 8 prospect fanned 10 and surrendered five hits over five shutout innings as Pensacola lost to Mobile, 4-2, on Wednesday.

So, could Cingrani be added to the roster this year, perhaps for the Reds' post-season run?

Anything's possible, but I think they value Cingrani enough that they won't rush him. Still, they are short of lefties in the pen, so you never know.

Meanwhile, Jay Bruce was interviewed by Red Reporter. They asked him if he missed his pal Janish, and he said they're still in regular contact and live close enough that they see each other often. He says he's glad Paul's gotten a better opportunity and is playing well, and that he thinks Janish was so liked and respected by the Reds that they went out of their way to find him a big league roster spot.

Labels: Paul Janish, Tony Cingrani

(Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE)

Nice article about Paul Janish here.

Shortstop Paul Janish has committed only one error since joining the Braves. That kind of glove work was expected. “He’s a proven defensive talent, and we felt like, for our club, that was the most important aspect of the acquisition,” general manager Frank Wren said the night he made the trade.

His ability to catch and throw and his quickness in beginning double plays has been a big factor in allowing the starting pitchers to throw fewer pitches and go deeper into games. Whether he could do anything on offense was never mentioned, except for how it wasn’t expected. “We didn’t bring him in for him to win the batting title,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. And he’s continued to say it. But Janish has gotten a couple of key hits and has earned key walks, as he did Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing right-hander Tim Hudson to come to the plate; he doubled in two runs.

Janish singled in his first at-bat in Sunday night’s 6-5 loss to the Mets, allowing right-hander Ben Sheets to come to the plate, turning over the lineup. And he drew a two-out walk to keep things going in the four-run ninth as the Braves almost pulled out a win. His most impressive play in the field has been to avoid the splintered end of a broken bat that got to him at the same time as the ball in Friday’s game against the Mets. His clean throw to first with a runner on third ended the inning, preserving left-hander Paul Maholm’s shutout.

The Braves could have been in big trouble when rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons was lost with a broken right little finger; he’s expected to be out until the beginning of September. Instead, Janish, acquired from the Reds the day after Simmons went on the disabled list, has buoyed the team with his smoothness in the field.

"Smooth" is a word often used to describe Janish's defense. That play with the broken bat was nice, but my pick for most impressive defensive play this year (so far) is that webgem where he ran down a popup in no-man's land.

Labels: Paul Janish

This card is dated 1999. It's from Bubba's days with the high-A San Bernardino Stampede.


Unusual photo. Looks like he's taping the handle of his bat?

The back has his stats from 1998, his first year in pro baseball.


Happy birthday, Bubba!

Labels: Bubba Crosby

The Braves seem happy with their new shortstop. After Paul Janish got on ESPN with this webgem, his manager had this to say:

The Braves traded for Janish from the Cincinnati Reds mainly for his glove, to fill in while Andrelton Simmons is out with a broken hand. (Simmons is scheduled to get his cast off Friday and is likely two more weeks from returning.) Janish has made all the plays and more since he arrived.

“He’s been everything I’ve expected and beyond my expectations really,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who said he got good reviews from Triple-A manager Dave Brundage, who’d seen him play for Louisville. “We got a lot of great recommendations about him, but you don’t appreciate the guy until you see him every day. Good baseball head too. He’s in the game. He’s sharp.”

Janish is hitting a bit, too. Broke the game open with a 2-RBI single yesterday, and went 2 for 3 with a double a couple of days ago.

Jack Wilson is on rehab assignment with Gwinnet. Be interesting to see what they do roster-wise when he's ready to return. I'm guessing Pastornicky will be sent down to AAA until rosters expand. Which won't be long.

Labels: Paul Janish