After 2 years of baseball in which the Braves didn’t make the playoffs, everything has changed. It’s been 13 years since the Braves won the World Series as part of their 14 year run as division champions. Despite the RedSox, Tigers, Indians, and even the Mets being better teams, the Braves start their quest for a National title.
Maybe that’s what the problem is. Everyone focused on those teams and neglected to see the Braves management building a new empire. Not until you get slapped across the face by a Jones’ homer and you lose, do you even notice that this team is dangerous. In Jimmy Rollins words “They’re good, they’ve got the swag back.”
That swag has always started with pitching in Atlanta. This year you
will have to face Tim Hudson, John Smoltz, Tommy Glavine, and Mike Hampton. They’ve also added to the bullpen. After trading Tyler Yates (75 appearances last season, 1.04 k/inn) they had room for Will Ohman and Chris Resop (98 mph fast-baller). Last year they had to rely on the arms of Hudson and Smoltz and let the bats do the rest. This year they have enough pitching to let John and Tim take the day off and still dominate from the mound. With the current line-ups the Braves have nine starters, theoretically, and the Mets/Phillies barely have five. This leaves room for injuries and for slumps. Having the arms in the bullpen means you take the pressure off the batters, something this year’s line-up isn’t worried about. Pressure or not these guys will get it done.
This is Mark Teixiera’s first full season with the team and so last years MLB leading 810 runs will likely grow for the Braves. Mark brings the Braves 100 more points to 1B batting average, and almost doubles the position’s slugging percentage (.312, .605 respectively). Add his homeruns and rbi’s to the list and he brings 60 more runs to the plate. Mark Kotsay replaces Andruw Jones in CF, but don’t expect there to be any loss in the lineup for that bat, or even in the field, for that matter.This group of guys can catch. Here’s the line-up:
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Chipper Jones, 3B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Matt Diaz, LF
Mark Kotsay, CF
Last year the Braves led the league in defensive-efficiency ratings with 58 plays made that the average player wouldn’t have made. They also had 454 plays made outside of the fielder’s zone, just one other thing they led the league in. But didn’t Andruw Jones give the Braves that number? No, Jones was not the lead outfielder last year, and his numbers dropped the Braves to the second best outfield in the league. This year Mark Kotsay and Yunel Escobar should have no problem maintaining that position. If either of the new guys have an above average year in the field, the Braves should climb to number one in the outfield.
The final number in the World Series equation is trade-ability. With this years pitching situation the Braves have several, 3 in fact, pitchers in the minors. All three pitchers were on the field last year and in the Braves starting rotation. Not to mention Joey Devine who is an outstanding talent. The Braves have kept Joey around so they can have an extra arm in the bullpen during the post season. After the way Joey has pitched for the Braves they need to decide if he is worth calling up and cultivating, or if they need to use him for a late season trade. Personally I would like to see him in a Braves uniform; however it is most likely not going to happen. The Braves simply have too much talent and can better use Devine later in the season when they are looking to acquire an extra fielder for their World Series squad.
Pitching, hitting, fielding and well placed trades will launch the 2008 Braves to another World Series Champion title.
Brought to you by
The Mind
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Chipper Jones, 3B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Matt Diaz, LF
Mark Kotsay, CF
Last year the Braves led the league in defensive-efficiency ratings with 58 plays made that the average player wouldn’t have made. They also had 454 plays made outside of the fielder’s zone, just one other thing they led the league in. But didn’t Andruw Jones give the Braves that number? No, Jones was not the lead outfielder last year, and his numbers dropped the Braves to the second best outfield in the league. This year Mark Kotsay and Yunel Escobar should have no problem maintaining that position. If either of the new guys have an above average year in the field, the Braves should climb to number one in the outfield.
The final number in the World Series equation is trade-ability. With this years pitching situation the Braves have several, 3 in fact, pitchers in the minors. All three pitchers were on the field last year and in the Braves starting rotation. Not to mention Joey Devine who is an outstanding talent. The Braves have kept Joey around so they can have an extra arm in the bullpen during the post season. After the way Joey has pitched for the Braves they need to decide if he is worth calling up and cultivating, or if they need to use him for a late season trade. Personally I would like to see him in a Braves uniform; however it is most likely not going to happen. The Braves simply have too much talent and can better use Devine later in the season when they are looking to acquire an extra fielder for their World Series squad.
Pitching, hitting, fielding and well placed trades will launch the 2008 Braves to another World Series Champion title.Brought to you by
The Mind
2 comments:
I like that pick. Braves will shock the league this year.
Looks like the Braves did just that, shocked the world by falling to the bottom of the league. Does anyone remeber what happened last time they did that? They won the next world series and then ran into 14 straight division titles. Maybe my prediction was just a year to early...
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