The Braves have released 28-year old lefty swinging outfielder Josh Anderson. Anderson played in 19 games in AAA-ball for the Braves this year and he was 10 of 53 (.189 avg, .440 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 RBI and 3 stolen bases. He has now played for three different organizations this year and they have all given up on him. He has played in 53 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 27 of 142 (.190 avg, .448 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. The Braves didn’t like what they saw out of Anderson this time around so they let him go. No big loss here.

The Braves have lost starting 3B Chipper Jones for the rest of the season due to a torn left ACL. He will need surgery and it will take him around six months to recover. Jones played in 95 games for the Braves this year and he was 84 of 317 (.265 avg, .806 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 10 homers, 46 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Braves will likely turn to Omar Infante, Eric Hinske and Brooks Conrad at 3B the rest of the year. Infante has played in 86 games for the Braves this year and he is 89 of 270 (.330 avg, .764 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 3 homers, 29 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Infante could slide to 3B when Martin Prado is ready to return from his broken finger. Eric Hinske and Brooks Conrad will probably share 3B until Prado gets back. Hinske has played in 95 games this year and he is 58 of 225 (.258 avg, .810 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 9 homers and 41 RBIs. Conrad has played in 73 games for the Braves this year and he is 24 of 101 (.238 avg, .808 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 6 homers, 23 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Braves will miss Jones because he is a better all-around player than any of his replacements but Infante, Hinske and Conrad are decent ballplayers.

40-year old righty reliever Takashi Saito is showing no signs of slowing down for the Atlanta Braves. Saito has pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Braves this year and he is 1-3 with 1 save, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He has only given up 35 hits in 43 innings this season for the Braves while whiffing 53 batters. Saito has been outstanding just like most of the Braves bullpen and they need him to finish the season strongly.

28-year old Nate McLouth began this season as the starting CF but he’s in AAA-ball right now due to his awful bat. McLouth played in 62 games earlier this year for the Braves and he was 31 of 185 (.168 avg, .544 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers, 14 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 146 games in his two years with the Braves and he is 118 of 524 (.225 avg, .692 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 14 homers, 50 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He is showing some signs of life in AAA right now. He has played in 14 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 16 of 57 (.281 avg, .845 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 4 homers, 7 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. It’s possible that the Braves could recall McLouth on September 1st if he continues to play well in AAA, but he has been a huge disappointment since coming to Atlanta.

The Braves have lost 24-year old starter/reliever Kris Medlen for the year due to a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will likely need Tommy John Surgery which will also end his 2011 season. Medlen has pitched in 31 games (14 starts) for the Braves this season and he is 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Braves will call up 22-year old lefty starting pitcher Mike Minor to replace Medlen in the starting rotation on Monday. Minor was the Braves’ #4 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Minor has started 20 games in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 6-7 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Minor has whiffed 144 batters while only giving up 92 hits in 118 2/3 innings in the minors this year giving you a glimpse of what kind of stuff he has. Minor has now pitched in 24 games (all starts) in his two years in the minors for the Braves and he is 6-8 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. 35-year old righty Kenshin Kawakami is going to be the unlucky guy demoted to AAA to make room for Minor on the pitching staff. Kawakami has pitched in 16 games (15 starts) for the Braves this year and he is 1-9 with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Kawakami will likely come back to the Braves when rosters expand in September.