2009 Atlanta Braves

[aukevin]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I can't even get slightly excited about this. I feel like my heart has been ripped out. Smoltzy pitched the first braves game I ever went to when I was 7 years old. I was really hoping I'd get to see him pitch again this year.. in a braves uniform.

Apparently Chipper ain't to happy either...http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sp...ge_tab_newstab

That's a depressing interview with Chipper. I'm not excited for the 2009 season at all at this point

[Knight165]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Ehh..

Winning will cure a lot of those ills.
Start of playing well and I think Chipper will be fine.

Get off to a slow start though, and things could get ugly.

M.K.
Knight165

[bravosfan]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Supposedly the Braves have offered Derek Lowe something in the neighborhood of $60 million over 4 years.

Eh, I guess that's what it takes...

Kawakami press conference later today.

[jt45]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I'm loving our rotation right about now...

Derek Lowe
Vazquez
Kawakami
Jurrjens
Campillo/Morton/Reyes

If we can just go get a power hitter for LF and then we take a flyer on Andruw after he gets released. Oh man, I'm starting to get excited.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I'm loving our rotation right about now...

Derek Lowe
Vazquez
Kawakami
Jurrjens
Campillo/Morton/Reyes

If we can just go get a power hitter for LF and then we take a flyer on Andruw after he gets released. Oh man, I'm starting to get excited.

I really, really like the rotation. Esp. if Hanson comes in this year too.

[Kohlstar20]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I'm loving our rotation right about now...

Derek Lowe
Vazquez
Kawakami
Jurrjens
Campillo/Morton/Reyes

If we can just go get a power hitter for LF and then we take a flyer on Andruw after he gets released. Oh man, I'm starting to get excited.

The only problem with that rotation is everyone's a right hander with the exception of Glavine or Reyes in the 5th spot. Im worried we could be vulnerable with all righties especially in this division. The Mets and Phillies can field a lineup of almost all left handed bats on any given day.

[Brandon13]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I'm loving our rotation right about now...

Derek Lowe
Vazquez
Kawakami
Jurrjens
Campillo/Morton/Reyes

If we can just go get a power hitter for LF and then we take a flyer on Andruw after he gets released. Oh man, I'm starting to get excited.

The ONLY way I want to see them sign Andruw is if he signs for the minimum. In all likely hood he'll never play in the majors again, but it's possible he could have something left.

[bravosfan]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

The vid of him on the Atlanta station working out with Chipper and Mac, he looked to be in as good as shape as he has in years. Swing looked a lot better, too, more balanced.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Sports/Detail?contentId=8237824&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=6.1.1

League-minimum type deal, I'd be for giving him a shot.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I hate that tub of lard, but for the league minimum and our desperation for outfield offense, we need him.

I still think we make a run at acquiring an OF. Some people have heard rumblings that we're interested in Nady or Swisher.

Sign Spiderpig to a min, trade a couple of prospects for Swisher, and we're in business!

[Heisman316]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

This offseason just went from lethargic to actually pretty good in a matter of 2 days! Go Wren, Go!!!!

[Heisman316]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

The rotation is looking good.
Rotation:
Vazquez
Lowe
Jurrjens
Kawakami

Competing for spots:
Campillo
Reyes
Morton
Parr
Hanson
and hopefully Glavine battling for the 5 spot.

Bullpen:
Gonzalez (CL)
Soriano
Boyer (supposedly improved)
Acosta
Logan
Carlyle
Bennett
Ridgway
O' Flaherty (sleeper)
Moylan (hopefully will become a beast)

Lineup:
Johnson/Prado -2B
Escobar - SS
Jones - 3B
McCann - C
Francoeur - RF (please don't be another bust)
Kotchamn - 1B (working on power)
Diaz/Blanco/? - LF
Anderson - CF

Bench:
Prado - INF
Blanco - OF
Infante - INF
Ross - C
Andruw - OF (if signed)
Brandon Jones - OF (if Andruw not signed)

This team actually looks pretty good compared to last month.

[bravosfan]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Bullpen and the OF still concerning me, particularly the OF... I'd expect we'll still bring in somebody for LF, though. Hopefully Frenchy figures something out.

I'd be surprised if Andruw comes off the bench if signed. Probably just cut him late in spring if he seems incapable of holding down a starting spot.

And on another note, I have a feeling KJ is gonna really break out this year.

[Helios12787]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Only thing I'm not liking is:

If that rotation remains healthy for the first half of the season (estimated time that Hudson is coming back last I checked), we're looking at having to either:

A) take our 5th starter out of the rotation (one of our younger pitchers who really need some starting xp) This would also still give us the righty heavy rotation

B) If we were to re-sign Glavine, our rotation remains healthy, and our recent additions pan out, we are looking at having to drop either 1 of 3 of recently signed players (none whom have been cheap), our rising star (Jurrjens), or attempting to trade Hudson away.

Granted more than likely someone is going to get injured for the season early and we'll be hurting until Hudson comes back, or our 5th spot is so shaky we end up using 10 different pitchers in the spot until Hudson gets back. However, if in fact the Braves do remain healthy I'm seeing some pretty big problems arising morale wise about the starting rotation.

I believe the outfield will work itself out in time (even if we sign andruw back). I see Francoeur having a decent season, and between the other youngsters one or 2 will manage to become an effective starter or we'll just platoon in left / center all season.

[AUTiger1]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

I am pumped about the Braves. Francoeur will bounce back. He had a good September and it's because he went back to using the batting stance he had in 2005 and 2006. The bullpen will be setter this year with Moylan and Soriano back. Moylan will be back in May. Boyer and Acosta are solid when rested. They just got used too much. Boyer had an ERA under 4 at the all-star break. I would love to see Anderson get a chance to play CF everyday. I would love to see him steal 50 bases. He has the speed to do it. I want no part of Andruw. 7 strikeouts in 13 at-bats against RHP in winter ball. Not good. Plus the Braves (if Kawakami pitches like he did in Japan) will have the best rotation in the NL East. The Braves could have protentially one of the best overall pitching staffs in all of baseball. Someone needs to tell everyone not taking the Braves seriously to get a clue. Braves will be this year's Rays.

[Kohlstar20]

Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves

Anyone know what the deal with Will Ohman is? He hasn't signed with anyone yet and didn't we offer him something like a 3 year/10Mil contract way back at the end of November?

We need another lefty in the pen along with Gonzo especially with the righty heavy rotation. Logan is a big question mark in my opinion and I don't think he should be our lefty specialist.