All Things Bubba

Paul Janish had a busy game yesterday. Not only did he have a close encounter with a bat (the small, furry kind), Manager Fredi Gonzalez put him in the lineup at SS for the first time this year. With today an off day, he saw as a chance to give starter Andrelton Simmons a two-day break.

It was not to be. Tyler Pastornicky, the second baseman while Dan Uggla is on the DL getting Lasik, collided with Jason Heyward and had to leave the game in the third inning with a sprained knee. Andrelton Simmons came in to play SS, Janish moved to 2B, and the Braves had no infielders left on the bench. If someone else had gotten hurt, Fredi would have had to put an outfielder in the infield. (He said at the corners he'd have put in Joey Terdoslavich. If Janish or Simmons were injured, he'd have had to play BJ Upton at second.)

Anyways, Janish had a nice game. He got his first big league hit since August 2012. (To be fair, he's hardly gotten any chance to hit since then. He's been used as only a LIDR.) He also got his first RBI of the season, via a sac fly.

All the photos I've come across have been on the defensive side. He did make some nice plays with the glove, too.

I'm wondering what Pastornicky's injury will mean for Janish. It sounds like they are hoping to avoid the DL. But man, that would leave them with no backup infielder until he's healthy. Janish would be starting at 2B every day, and there is no other backup infielder on the roster.

If the Braves do DL Pastornicky, they've hinted they'll call up Tommy La Stella from AA to play 2B. They could also call up an insurance player from AAA, and just DFA him when they don't need him any more. Or trade for someone; the Braves are rumored to be interested in acquiring a reserve infielder with a bigger bat than Janish's.

Janish acquitted himself well at the plate yesterday. I'd like to see him get more playing time, but I can't see the Braves going for long with no backup infielder. Even with a 14-game lead, that's kind of nuts.

Labels: Paul Janish