breaks of the game

The good news for Mississippi Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was bad news for ex-M-Brave Tyler Pastornicky. Atlanta summoned Simmons to the big leagues late Wednesday and sent Pastornicky to Triple-A Gwinnett. (Greg Paiml is coming down from Gwinnett to fill Simmons’ roster spot.) Simmons, who will become the 62nd M-Braves alum to play in The Show, looked ready for a new challenge. He was batting .292 with three home runs and playing good defense. Still, it’s a big move for a 22-year-old, as Pastornicky, also 22, found out. After an excellent 2011 campaign split between Pearl and Gwinnett, he won the shortstop job in spring training. He was hitting .248, used mostly in the difficult No. 8 hole, but his defense reportedly was found lacking by Braves brass. We shall see if this change works out; it would seem that Atlanta’s bigger issue is starting pitching.