Starting Rotation

I thought we would break down the starting rotation, relievers, infielders, outfielders and bench players. So we will start with our Starting Rotation.

In the 1st week, we have gotten seen our 1st 4 starters including Derek Lowe twice. I have been impressed with them.

Let's start with Derek Lowe. He is a guy, who wasn't even on our radar during the off season until we lost out on Jake Peavy and AJ Burnett then we didn't resign John Smoltz. Yes, we signed Derek to 4 yr deal @ $15M a yr. All Derek has done is pitched 11 innings and given up 1 run and struck out 11. Here is a guy who actually wanted to come to Atlanta and is anchoring our staff. Lowe has never been on the DL in his career. He pitches over 200 innings so we know he can pitch deep into games.

Then we have Jair Jurrjens. What can we say about this young kid? We got him in a trade from Detroit, which was consider, imo, highway robbery. He was projected to be a #5 starter for us last season. All Jair did was pitch 188 plus innings and turned out to the "ace" of the staff due to injuries to the other starters including Hudson. He came in 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting. With the acquistitions of Lowe, Vazquez and Kawakami, Jair won't have to be the Ace, he can just settle in and be our #3 guy. Jair missed one start last season due to spraining an ankle, so we know he is durable.

Javier Vazquez is someone we acquired in a trade from the White Sox. Vazquez has wanted to pitch for the Braves for a while. Here is another guy who has never been on the DL, pitches 200 plus innings a yr and strikes out over 200. Granted his ERA is over 4.00 but with a change of scenery and manager, might help him. Vazquez pitched in the WBC for Puerto Rico and he looked good. Knowing what Vazquez brings to the table, the Braves can expect him to go deep into game.

Kenshin Kawakami, also known as Double K in my book. He is the 1st Japanese player to play for the Braves. Just from the video I have seen of him pitch, he has some movement of his pitches. I will have to wait til I have seen him pitch a few times to make a better judgment.

Then we have Tommy Glavine. He is returning from arm surgery. As we all know about Glavine, he doesn't have velocity on his pitches but he has movement on his pitches. I don't think that will change. Tommy isn't schedule to take the mound until April 19th. This will be the 1st time the Braves will need the 5th starter, which will be the 1st time Tommy will make a start. This has given Glavine more time to rehab his arm. That might be more of a blessing then anyone will know.

I am tossing an extra starter in there because sometime this yr, this one is going to be in Atlanta. Tommy Hanson is a stud. He is down at Triple A Gwinnett right now but this kid is nothing but a stud, imo. If we have an injury to any of our starter, he is getting a call up ASAP. He throws 96 to 99 MPH on the gun for his fastball and has great movement on his other pitches. He is mature beyond his yrs. The Braves brass knows he is ready to pitch in Atlanta know but they don't want to rush him, which is probably a very good plan. I can't wait to see him in Atlanta.

Then we have Tim Hudson who is recovering from TJ surgery. He is on schedule to return to the Braves in late July or early August. He has an option for 2010, whether the Braves pick it up is up in the air. From what I read on this injury for Huddy, he got hurt in the 2nd inning of the game with the Marlins, pitched til the 5th inning when he felt the tightness and got pulled. It was then discovered he injured the area that requires TJ surgery.

Talk about having a supply of starting pitching that is good or special. The Braves have it and other teams want it, especially Tommy Hanson and Frank Wren is not letting him go as witnessed by telling Kevin Towers Tommy Hanson was not available. Wren also let Hanson know he wasn't going anywhere.

It is going to be an exciting season to watch the 3 new starters Frank Wren went out and signed. Wren said starting pitching was one of the things he was going to improve on and he did so.

I will say, so far so good. Our starters have given a good account of themselves in this 1st week of the season.

New Season....New Start

Well folks, Major League Baseball Season has started and so has our beloved Braves. We kicked off the season in the City of Brotherly Love and Home of the World Champions, Philadelphia Phillies.

The Braves made some major changes in the off season to improve this season including the pitching staff. Frank Wren made it clear after last season, he was going to make getting pitching and a LF for the Braves. He wanted 2 starters, well he not only got 2 starters, he got us 3 starters.
Wren made a trade for Javier Vazquez, who has wanted to pitch for the Braves for a while. Then he made a play for AJ Burnett, it came down to one little issue, Burnett's wife doesn't fly, so she rather take a train to NY then to Atlanta, so he signed with the Yankees. The Braves fans were upset with no other pitchers haven't been signed and Smoltz bolting for the BoSox, that only is another whole blog. Then within a matter of a week, Wren goes out and signs two starters, Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakawi, the Japanese player to play for the Braves. Then we resign Tommy Glavine, who is recovering from off season surgery. Then we have our top prospect, Tommy Hanson waiting down at Triple A Gwinnett. Again, he only is another blog.

Wren, needed to find an OF to fill the LF spot. As the off season wore on, guys like Burrell, Ibanez and Abreu were out there, they seem to want a little more than Wren wanted to spend. Garret Anderson was still out there and Wren signed him. A good veteran player, who puts up solid numbers and is constantly in the lineup. He is a bridge until another young stud by the name of Jason Heyward is ready to take over in LF. CF was a battle right up til the end of Spring Training then Jordan Schafer won the spot.

On a sweet note, Chipper Jones has signed that contract extension that will keep him in Atlanta til he retires making him one of the rare players to come up with the team that drafted him and play his entire career with one team. Chipper and Brian McCann both played on Team USA and gave impressive performances until Chipper got hurt. Mac even played LF in one game due to injuries to Ryan Braun, lets hope Bobby doesn't get any ideas.

We have a very strong bench in guys like Infante, Norton, David Ross (another FA signing), Blanco, Diaz and Prado. Each of these guys play multi-positions which gives Bobby alot of options.

Bullpen is strong with Gonzo as the closer and Soriano and Moylan being our set up guys. Middle and Long Relief guys are Boyer, Bennett, Campillo, O'Flaretty, and Carlyle. With our starters, let's hope we don't need to go to these guys very often.

I see a good season from our Braves. We are going to give the Phillies and Mets are run for their money.

So far the Braves are 2-1.

On the Road Again....Struggles

What is it when the Braves leave the friendly confines of Turner Field where they have a winning record of 13-4 and hit the road? Unfortunately, not even I can understand why the Braves are struggling on the road.

We headed into Pittsburgh for a 4 game series against the Pirates and two of our former Braves, Adam LaRoche and Tyler Yates. In Friday Night's game, Tom Glavine was pitching a good game and went 7 innings. Frenchy looks as if he is starting to come out of it, he had both RBI's for the Braves. Yet when it came down to it, we lost another 1 run game and thus ending our 6 game winning streak and continuing our road woes.

Tonight's game, pitted Chuck "Can't Keep the Ball Down" James against their young LHP Gorzelanny. Granted James went 6 innings but he didn't keep it in the park or down in the strike zone thus he gave up 5 runs. The only runs we scored were on a Mark Teixeira 2 Run Home Run. We give him a 2 run lead and he can't hold it. Sorry but this is going to be a bashing session. Until Chuck James learns to pitch down in the strike zone and learns another pitch, he will continue to get hammered by the opposing team. No matter how much of a lead we give him, he will blow it. I am not a big fan of his. He does well down in the minors but he comes up to the big team and seems to lose it. Put him in the bullpen and let Jeff Bennett start at least we know what we are getting with him.

We have Jair Jurrjens going for us tomorrow against Zack Duke, in my opinion, Jurrjens is going to be our #2 guy in the rotation. He is composed and is not afraid to go after guys. He doesn't get rattled. I like the make up of this young kid. Let's see if he can get us a win tomorrow against the Pirates. The offense needs to wake up too. Infante had a good night for us. He went 3 for 3. A nice option to give KJ a day off here and there and bat off the bench. The bench is looking nice if you ask me.

6 Game Winning Streak

Yes folks, that is not a misprint. The Braves came home and took care of business. They went 6-0 against the Reds and Padres. Everyone from top to bottom of this order help to get to 6-0 and now they head on the road to Pittsburgh where they face their old friends, Adam LaRoche and Tyler Yates, Friday-Sunday.

We finally pulled out a 1 Run Victory, after being down 4-1, we pulled out a 1 run victory in the bottom of the 9th with a bases loaded game winning RBI Single by Matt Diaz. Again, the bullpen comes up big and does its job, shutting the door. What can you say about this bullpen, whether it is Campillo, Ring or Ohman, they are coming in and keeping the other team from scoring? These guys are not getting recognized and they must like it. Carlyle came in after Reyes had to leave with blisters on his pitching hand. Carlyle got bowled over when fielding a swinging bunt, he looked as if he didn't know where he was. He managed the out. He ended up with a strained neck.

Diaz and Kotsay pulled off a double steal and Ruben Gotay also had a stolen base. 3 Stolen Bases for the Braves. This is something we don't see much of by the Braves.

Braves 5-4

18-15

1 Game out of 1st Place.

Winner: Manny Acosta (1-1 3.38)
Loser: Joe Thatcher (0-4 6.75)


Braves Starting Lineup:
Omar Infante 2B
Yunel Escobar SS
Chipper Jones 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Matt Diaz LF
Mark Kotsay CF
Corky Miller C
Jo-Jo Reyes P

The new PH, Greg Norton has 3 RBI's in his 1st 2 PH AB's for the Braves. Very Nice if you ask me. Infante returned today, giving KJ a day off, he got his 1st hit in a Braves Uniform. In order for Infante to put on the roster, Pena went on the DL with lower back injury, apparently he hurt it while moving.

Let's see if we can go to 7 in a row and make a run for 1st place, some where we haven't seen in a while.

Braves are on the move.