Start of 2011
Lineup vs RHP
CF Campana
2B DeWitt
SS Castro
1B Fielder
3B Viciedo
LF Soriano
RF Jackson
C Soto
Bench:
Fukudome
JJ Hardy
Jake Fox
Mark DeRosa
Reed Johnson
Lineup vs LHP
CF Campana
2B DeRosa
SS Castro
1B Fielder
RF Viciedo
LF Soriano
C Soto
3B Hardy
Rotation
Garza
Dempster
Zambrano
James Paxton
Jay Jackson
Bullpen:
LR: Charlie Morton
MRP: Sean Marshall
MRP: Jhonny Nunez
MRP: Dan Cortes
SU: Jensen Lewis
SU: Kerry Wood
CP: Chris Carpenter
Busy busy offseason. As you can see I picked up Fielder in the FA market. Paid big bucks for him but it was worth it(I hope). I like my lineup. Plenty of speed at the top with Campana who batted .287 for me down the stretch in 2010. DeWitt is solid at 2B and DeRosa gives me a nice bat to use against lefties at 2B. Castro slots into the 3 spot after a late season power surge. Great hitter and I'm hoping the power numbers stay. Either way I need guys on base in front of Fielder so Castro will stay here for the time being. Viciedo settles into the middle of the order and Brett Jackson can get his feet under him after batting .286 during his September call up in 2010 at the #7 position in the order.
I can't wait to rid myself or Soriano.
I was able to bring Fukudome back for cheap at the end of free agency.
I like my bench overall. Jake Fox is kind of a crappy back up at catcher and I have Wellington Castillo down in AAA but I want to keep getting him AB's. Through 13 games so far Soto is batting in the .130's so Castillo's time could be soon if I can trade Soto for peanuts.
With Hardy and DeRosa I have some nice IF/OF flexibilty as well.
My pitching staff I like a lot. Garza had a great year for me last season and is my ace now. Dempster and Zambrano are pitching where they should be and the back end of my rotation is really young. Paxton I am really high on. he got called up last year. Went 1-1 with an ERA in the mid 3's. Power lefty arm. Projects out for me as a #2 guy. Maybe a fringe ace. Control issues but really solid 4 pitch guy. Jay Jackson got a call up late last year and went 3-0 with an ERA under 3.50. Nothing overpowering about his stuff but a solid middle to back end of the rotation arm.
My bullpen I was able to upgrade as well IMO. The Pirates let Morton walk after an iffy season and he is a guyw ho can spot start for my younger arms. Marshall/Nunez/Cortes are upgrades for me in the middle relief area. Nunez came over in the Aramis/Viciedo deal and has been really solid. Cortes Isigned away from Seattle and he's been impressive in duty so far this season. Lewis was an All-Star at AAA last season and I picked him up. Another guy who doesn't have overpowering stuff but nothing he throws is straight and he gets outs. I resigned Wood and he's a good veteran prescence at the back end.
Carpenter has electric stuff. There will be growing pains but he has closer stuff.
I signed Dontrelle Willis to a FA contract and he is currently at AAA along with Kris Medlin who the Braves let walk after he missed all of last season with an injury. I'll let him "rehab" down there for a while then look at calling him up later. It's ncie to have options beyond Casey Coleman at AAA to call up if need be.
Vitters and McNutt start the year off at AA.
Castillo, Rebel Ridling, and Rafael Dolis are the only real prospects of note at AAA.
My system is still really young. Most of my talent(Vitters, McNutt, Hayden Simpson, Jae-Hoon Ha, Michael Burgess, Justin Bour, Matt Szczur, Tim Beckham, Dan Vogelbach, Javier Baez, Reggie Golden, etc) is at the AA level or below. Beckham has been lighting it up early on at AA though so he's one to watch as the season moves forward.
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Random Free Agent observations:
-I tried to bring back Colvin but the Yankees outbid me for him. I'm sure he will love the short porch in right in Yankee Stadium.
-Jose Reyes went to the WS champion Red Sox. They are loaded in the lineup now.
-Carlos Beltran and Carlos Pena ended up with the Dodgers. The Dodgers OF is filthy. Beltran, Kemp, Ethier.
-Atlanta has maybe the best young staff in baseball. Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor, Beachey. Teahran is still down at AAA.
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