Results tagged ‘ Atlanta Braves ’
This date in Kernels alumni history – December 12, 1980 – Ted Simmons (1967) was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
On December 12, 1980, the Milwaukee Brewers traded Lary Sorensen, Sixto Lezcano, David Green and Dave LaPoint to the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire Ted Simmons (Cedar Rapids Cardinals – 1967), Rollie Fingers and Pete Vuckovich. Fingers and Vuckovich went on to the the American League Cy Young awards in 1981 and 1982 respectively and Simmons was selected to the A.L. all-star squads in 1981 and 1983. All three were instrumental in the Brewers 1982 American League pennant winning squad which lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Ted Simmons, an eight-time All-Star hit .285 with 248 HR and 1389 RBI during his 21 year career playing for the Cardinals Brewers and Braves. Simmons retired with more career hits (2472) and more career doubles (483) than any catcher in the Hall of Fame. Simmons served as a member of the front office and field staff for the Pirates, Indians, Padres, Brewers and Mariners following his playing career. In 2012, he was a Senior Advisor to the General Manager for the Seattle Mariners.
Ted Simmons was a member of the 1967 Cedar Rapids Cardinals team that finished 53-67 under manager Jack Krol. Simmons hit .269 with 4 HR and 11 doubles in 47 games for the Cedar Rapids Cardinals.
Atlanta Braves acquire Jordan Walden (2008) in exchange for Tommy Hanson
The Atlanta Braves acquired Jordan Walden (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2008) from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for starting pitcher Tommy Hanson. Walden has posted a 8-8 record with 34 saves and a 3.03 E.R.A. over three seasons in the Angels bullpen. He was 3-2 with one save and a 3.46 E.R.A. in 2012. Walden was selected to the American League All-Star squad in 2011 as a rookie and finished seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting.
Jordan Walden posted a 4-6 record and a 2.18 E.R.A. in 18 starts for Cedar Rapids in 2008. Walden struck out 91 batters in 107 1/3 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the season with a 72-66 record under manager Keith Johnson. The Kernels topped Clinton in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs before falling to Burlington in the semifinals.
Joe Saunders to start for Orioles tonight, Kernels alumni in the 2012 postseason
Joe Saunders (Cedar Rapids Kernels – 2002) will get the start tonight for the Baltimore Orioles as they take on the Texas Rangers and Saunders’ former battery mate Mike Napoli (Cedar Rapids Kernels 2001-02) in the first ever American League Wild Card game tonight at Rangers Ballpark. The Orioles feature two additional Kernels alumni in starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (2005) and relief pitcher Darren O’Day (2006).
The fifth Cedar Rapids Kernels alumni who has a chance at playing baseball this October is St. Louis Cardinals reliever Barret Browning (2007). The Cardinals travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves in the first ever National League Wild Card game tonight at Turner Field.
The Baltimore Orioles traded Matt Lindstrom and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks to acquire Joe Saunders (2002) on August 26 this season. Saunders posted a 3-3 record with a 3.63 E.R.A. in 7 starts for the Orioles. He had posted a 6-10 record with a 4.22 E.R.A. in 21 starts for Arizona prior to the trade. Saunders was acquired by the Diamondbacksalong with Patrick Corbin (2010), Tyler Skaggs (2010) and Rafael Rodriguez (2003-05) from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Dan Haren on July 25, 2010. Saunders has compiled a 78-65 career MLB record with a 4.15 E.R.A. in eight season pitching for the Angels, Diamondbacks and Orioles.
Joe Saunders was part of the 2002 Kernels team that finished 3rd with a mark of 81-58 under manager Todd Claus. The 2002 team swept Quad Cities in the opening round of the playoffs before falling to Peoria in the second round. Saunders was 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in five starts for the Kernels. He struck out 27 batters in 28 2/3 innings of work.
Mike Napoli has hit .259 with 146 HR and 380 RBI thus far during his seven MLB seasons with the Angels and Rangers. He had a career best year in 2011, hitting .320 with 30 HR, 75 RBI and a OPS of 1.046. Napoli capped it off with a very impressive 2011 World Series where he hit .350 with 2 HR, 10 RBI and a 1.164 OPS in the seven game series. Mike Napoli is one of only two MLB catchers who have hit 20 or more HR each of the last five seasons (Brian McCann-ATL).
Mike Napoli was a member of the 2001 and 2002 Cedar Rapids Kernels teams. In 2001, the Kernels finished 60-77 under manager Tyrone Boykin. Napoli hit .232 with 5 HR and 18 RBI in 43 games for Cedar Rapids. In 2002, the Kernels posted a 81-58 mark under manager Todd Claus. Napoli hit .251 with 10 HR, 19 doubles and had 50 RBI in 103 games for Cedar Rapids in 2002.
The Orioles claimed righty reliever Darren O’Day off waivers from the Rangers last fall. O’Day, 29, had battled through injuries and posted a 0-1 record with a 5.40 E.R.A. in 2011. He joined the Rangers via an April 2009 waiver claim from the Mets. From that point through the end of the 2010 season, O’Day provided the Rangers a 1.99 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 0.61 HR/9 in 117 2/3 innings. He made an appearance in four of the 2010 World Series games. Darren O’Day is 7-1 with a 2.28 E.R.A. in 69 games out of the Orioles bullpen in 2012. O’Day has struck out 69 batters in 67 innings of work. O’Day has compiled a career mark of 15-6 with a 2.73 E.R.A.
Darren O’Day posted a 3-1 mark with a 2.70 E.R.A. in 23 1/2 innings of work over 17 appearances for Cedar Rapids in 2006. The Kernels finished 65-74 under manager Bobby Magallanes in 2006.
Miguel Gonzalez signed a free agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles this past off season after being selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 2008 Rule V draft.. Gonzalez posted a 2-1 record with a save and a 1.50 E.R.A. for the Norfolk Tides (AAA) before making his MLB debut on May 25, 2012. Miguel Gonzalez had a break out 2012 season going 9-4 with a 3.25 E.R.A. in 18 games including 15 starts for the Orioles. He struck out 77 batters in 105 1/3 innings of work.
Miguel Gonzalez posted a 2-5 record with 8 saves and a 4.70 E.R.A in 28 games for the 2005 Cedar Rapids Kernels. He struck out 42 batters in 44 innings of work. Cedar Rapids finished the 2005 season with a 65-75 record under manager Bobby Magallanes.
Barret Browning was acquired by the Cardinals in the AAA phase of the Rule V draft this past off season. Browning was 2-3 with a 1.89 E.R.A. in 30 games for the Memphis Redbirds this season before making his MLB debut on June 30, 2012. He posted a 1-3 record with a 5.12 E.R.A. in 22 appearances out of the Cardinals bullpen. Browning struck out 11 in 19 1/3 innings of work.
Barret Browning posted a 9-4 record with 8 saves and a 2.80 E.R.A in 48 games for the 2007 Cedar Rapids Kernels. He struck out 74 batters in 74 innings of work in 2007. Browning made his major league debut on June 30, 2012 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
This date in Kernels alumni history – October 3, 1995 – Jeff Branson
On October 3, 1995, Jeff Branson (Cedar Rapids Reds – 1989-90) went 2-3 at the plate with a double, two RBI and walked in the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in the opening game of the National League Division Series. The Reds swept the Dodgers before losing to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS.
Jeff Branson hit .246 with 34 HR and 156 RBI during his 9 year MLB career playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jeff Branson played for the 1989 and 1990 Cedar Rapids Reds squads. In 1989, Branson hit .281 with 10 HR and 68 RBI in 127 games as the Reds finished 80-57 under manager Dave Miley. The 1989 Cedar Rapids Reds lost to Springfield in the opening round of the playoffs. In 1990, Branson hit .251 with 6 HR and 24 RBI in 62 games and the team finished with a 88-46 mark under manager Dave Miley. The 1990 Cedar Rapids Reds squad lost to the Quad Cities team in the opening round.
Jeff Branson served as the hitting coach for the Indianapolis Indians, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the last few seasons.
This date in Kernels alumni history – September 30, 1988 – Paul O’Neill
On September 30, 1988, Paul O’Neill (Cedar Rapids Reds – 1982) went 2-4 at the plate with two HR and four RBI as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-7 at Riverfront Stadium.
Paul O’Neill hit .288 with 281 HR and 1269 RBI during his 17 year MLB career playing for the Reds and Yankees. He won the American League batting title in 1994 with a .359 batting average. O’Neill was selected to five All-Star teams and was a member of six World Series teams earning five championship rings.
Paul O’Neill hit .272 with 8 HR and 71 RBI in 116 games as the 1982 Cedar Rapids Reds finished 61-79 under manager Randy Davidson.
This date in Kernels alumni history – September 25, 1991 – Chris Sabo
On September 25, 1991, Chris Sabo (Cedar Rapids Reds – 1990) went 3-3 at the plate with a HR, four RBI, a walk and stole a base as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 10-9 in 10 innings in game two of a doubleheader at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Chris Sabo, the 1988 N.L. Rookie of the year and a three-time all-star, hit .268 with 166 HR and 426 RBI during his nine year MLB career playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Sabo batted .563 with 2 HR as the Reds won the 1990 World Series.
Chris Sabo hit .274 with 12 HR in 77 games for the 1983 Cedar Rapids Reds team that finished with a mark of 76-64 under manager Bruce Kimm’s guidance. The Reds fell in the opening round of the playoffs to Springfield.
This date in Kernels alumni history – September 23, 1989 – Paul O’Neill
On September 23, 1989, Paul O’Neill (Cedar Rapids Reds – 1982) went 2-5 at the plate with a double and four RBI as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 11-5 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Paul O’Neill hit .288 with 281 HR and 1269 RBI during his 17 year MLB career playing for the Reds and Yankees. He won the American League batting title in 1994 with a .359 batting average. O’Neill was selected to five All-Star teams and was a member of six World Series teams earning five championship rings.
Paul O’Neill hit .272 with 8 HR and 71 RBI in 116 games as the 1982 Cedar Rapids Reds finished 61-79 under manager Randy Davidson.
Seth Dohrn
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