put up or pack up

The Atlanta Braves organization has taken a hard line with its Double-A club this summer. Five players who were on the Mississippi Braves’ opening day roster, including three who were in the starting lineup, have been released over the course of the season. That’s a high total for the Braves. These moves weren’t disciplinary in nature; they were all about production. Third baseman Eric Campbell, a former second-round pick and one-time Top 10 prospect in the organization, had been a disappointment at both the plate and in the field. On Tuesday, a day after hitting a home run, he was whacked. Catcher Phillip Britton, an oft-injured backup most of the year to J.C. Boscan, got the news Wednesday. Pitcher Bryan Dumesnil was released on July 31, first baseman Kala Ka’aihue — another huge disappointment — on July 4 and infielder Javier Guzman — last year’s regular shortstop — way back on April 30. The team is better today than it was at the end of the first half. Not much debate about that. But with only 16 games left in the season, and the team essentially out of the playoff picture, you have to wonder if there are any other struggling M-Braves looking over their shoulder?