Braves team Thread (eh what the hell :D )

[TheNamelessPoet]

Offseason moves (and non moves)
Lets start with the "Big One" Peavy
The trade that looked done but didnt happen. The deal seamed to get hung up as the padres kept asking for more. Then with the Braves feeling like they were bidding against themselves the pulled out of the deal. The Cubs who looked like they didn't have enough may swoop in and nab him.
The Good
Well we still have Hanson whom they said they wouldnt give up anyway, Still have Escobar which I am THRILLED about and gave up no prospects.
The Bad
Um.... well, I guess no #1 starter

Derek Lowe
The Good
Innings eater, who is proven, he can pitch with the big guys May not be a #1 but with 2-3 very good #2''s you can definatly compete. Older but only a starter for 6 or so years. Will be out #1 starter for not overly excesive $... yet
The Bad
Last year of his contract he will turn 39. Will also be making $15 per year, which we may see in 2-3 years is far to much $.
Could push Hudson out of the mix if Hudson comes back strong from surgery

Javier Vazquez
The Good
Well it looks better now that he is not the "ace" of the staff. Also ony a 2 year deal at $11.5 per year so not a HUGE burdon. anothe proven Innings eater, and as stated above with Lowe... dont need a 220 innings ace when you have 2-3 Kings in your hand.
The Bad
Are we getting Montreal Vazquez ir NY Vazquez, and will the NL help him as much as Wren (and fans) hope?

Kenshin Kawakami
The Good
Was very good in Japan, hopes are he does it here. 3 year $23 million is not debilitating at all, and if he turns into a decent #3 we will be in VERY good shape next eay if everyone else pans out.
The Bad
Hideki Irabu
Kei Igawa
Chan Ho Park (post 28)


Other moves to come

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

"Braves team Thread (eh what the hell )" a.k.a., TNP's thread to rant and rave about the Braves

[Alloutwar]

Ok, I was just booking my AAA games for the season here at the Charlotte Knights...and I learned the Richmond Braves, their AAA affiliate, are no more?

apparently their AAA team moved to...Gwinnette County, Atlanta? Like, right outside Atlanta? Weird.

http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomi...innett-county/

[TheNamelessPoet]

Yea... i dont rember exactly but it had something to do with a new park I THINK

[free2131]

Our roster so far (based on signed players as of 1-28):

SP:
Derek Lowe
Javier Vazquez
Jair Jurrjens
Kenshin Kawakami
Charlie Morton/ Jo Jo Reyes/ Jorge Campillo

RP:
CL: Mike Gonzalez
SU: Rafael Soriano
MR: Boone Logan
MR: Blaine Boyer
MR: Manny Acosta
MR: Peter Moylan (May)
LR: Jeff Bennett
LR: Buddy Carlyle/ Jorge Campillo

C:
Brian McCann
David Ross

1B:
Casey Kotchman
Greg Norton

2B:
Kelly Johnson
Martin Prado

SS:
Yunel Escobar

3B:
Chipper Jones

UI:
Omar Infante

RF:
Jeff Francoeur

CF:
Josh Anderson/ Jordan Schafer
Gregor Blanco

LF:
Matt Diaz
Brandon Jones/ Gregor Blanco

(I know that I have 26 spots filled, but I figure either Carlyle or Bennett will go down when Moylan comes off the DL)

[free2131]

Our lineup should be something like this:

SS Escobar .288/.366/.401 102 OPS+

2B Johnson .287/.349/.446 108 OPS+

3B Jones .364/.470/.574 174 OPS+

C McCann .301/.373/.523 134 OPS+

1B Kotchman .272/.328/.410 93 OPS+

LF Diaz .244/.264/.304 50 OPS+ (DL'ed after May)

RF Francoeur .239/.294/.359 72 OPS+ (should have been DL'ed after May)

CF Blanco .251 .366 .309 81 OPS+

(maybe have Blanco lead off instead of Escobar)

[free2131]

Even though Wren is not a stat guy, I wish he could look past Dunn's K's and see that the man is a lock for 40 bombs and a .375 OBP. With him hitting between Chipper and McCann, I think this lineup could have 175+ HR and score around 800 runs.

I hope we don't re-sign Glavine and use that money for Dunn and if we have any funds left, go after Ohman.

I like our bench, especially if Schafer makes the team out of spring training. We'd have power (Norton) speed (Anderson/ Blanco) and good contact (Diaz).

Our rotation does have a few question marks, but I'd say it was above average, and our pen has the potential to be lights out if Gonzalez and Soriano return to form. Like I said, I'm a little worried about our lefty situation (Logan), but even if we don't resign Ohman, we have a kid who I think could surprise (Francisley Bueno).

I'd say that as is, this team could win between 85-90 games and have an outside shot at the WC, especially if Hanson is ready to join the team sometime in 2009.

[Alloutwar]

Is Norton anywhere near good? http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nortogr01.shtml

I got to see him a lot when he played for Tampa Bay in '07 I think...a little in '06. He had like a sub-.200 average. Looks like he's hit around .243 or so, in the playing time he's been given, most of the last two years.

He has okay power, sometimes...but it just doesn't seem like 1B production value.

[HoustonGM]

Norton has value as a pinch hitter. He shouldn't be used as anything more than that.

Also, Dunn would be a very nice pickup for Atlanta.

[TheNamelessPoet]

I'd rather see Abreu and put him in LF.
Id like a lineup of this
Escobar (Blanco if he could ever get his OBP up)
Abreu
Jones
Mccan
kochman
Francouer (if he bounces back I out him as #5)
johnson
Blanco/escobar

[TheNamelessPoet]

Blanco and Abreu at the top would be very nice. if we can have 2 .350+ OBP guys with decent speed we dont NEED a 40 HR hitter... get em on , get em over, get em in!

[HoustonGM]

Dunn > Abreu and at this point, they'll likely come at a similar price.

[free2131]

If the Braves do get one of those guys, it will be Abreu. Wren is scared to death of K's and a a lack of singles.

[free2131]

So, our probable opening lineup will look like this:

(against LHP/against RHP)

J. Anderson/G. Blanco
Escobar/K. Johnson
C. Jones/C. Jones
McCann/ McCann
Francoeur/G. Anderson
K. Johnson/Kotchman
Diaz/Escobar
Kotchman/Francoeur

Boy, I sure wish we could have gotten Dunn.

SP:

Lowe
Vazquez
Jurrjens
Kawakami
Glavine

Solid rotation. If Glavine falters, we have Reyes, Campillo, Morton, and eventually Hanson who could step in.

Bullpen:

CL- Gonzalez
SU- Soriano
SR- Moylan
SR- Boyer
LOOGY- Logan
MR- Bennett
SS- Campillo

I'd put this pen top 5 in the NL if everyone is healthy. We also have Acosta, Carlyle, Morton, Ridgeway, Reyes and others for depth. As far as talent in AAA, this is probably the deepest we've had in a while.

It is definitely gonna be a decent year for the Braves. I'd say 85 wins and a realistic shot at the wild card.

[etothep]

From Mark Bowman's blog:

After Francoeur opened the back nine at Isleworth Country Club with consecutive birdies on March 4, (Tiger) Woods asked, "Who are you?"

Francoeur, quickly responded, "I just wanted to see how the world's number one golfer reacts with his back up against the wall?"

This prompted Woods to reply, "Yeah, well I was wondering how much time you plan to spend playing in Mississippi this year?"