Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 25, 2008 18:48:31 GMT -5
Last season: 84-78, 3rd in N.L. East
Manager: Bobby Cox, 23rd season, 2,255-1,764 (.561) career record
New faces: OF Josh Anderson (HOU), RHP Jorge Campillo (SEA), RHP Matt DeSalvo (NYY), LHP Tom Glavine (NYM), IF Omar Infante (DET), RHP Jair Jurrjens (DET), OF Mark Kotsay (OAK), LHP Will Ohman (CHC)
Left town: RHP Jose Ascanio (CHC), RHP Lance Cormier (BAL), RHP Joey Devine (OAK), IF Willie Harris (WSH), OF Andruw Jones (LAD), LHP Ron Mahay (KC), IF Pete Orr (WSH), RHP Chad Paronto (HOU), SS Edgar Renteria (DET), RHP Oscar Villarreal (HOU), IF Chris Woodward (NYY)
Overview: Not like they are going to sneak up on anybody, but the Braves have a good shot at reeling in the Mets and Phillies and returning to the post-season, something that they did for 14-straight seasons from 1991-2005. The starting pitching, which was a bit of a mess last season, has been bolstered by the return of Tom Glavine, who will turn 42 years of age this season and will settle into the three-hole in the rotation. Mark Kotsay, coming off an injury-plagued season with the Athletics, replaces 10-time Gold Glover Andruw Jones in centre. This is a downgrade for a team that seemed to take Jones for granted over the last few seasons and now will find out what life without him is like. Age is an enemy of this veteran team with several key players/pitchers now in their late 30's. But this team has enough talent to compete and manager Bobby Cox still runs a tight ship.
Stat to ponder: Talk about making an instant impact. In the 54 games that Mark Teixeira played in after arriving in a multi-player trade from Texas, he drove in at least one run in 32. Top prospect: OF Brandon Jones: No relation to Chipper or Andruw, this 24-year-old lefty swinger drove in 104 runs between double-A and the majors and will likely finish the season as the everyday left fielder.
Hitting
2007 AVG: .275 (9th), RUNS/GAME: 5.00 (9th), HR: 176 (12th)
The loss of Andruw Jones and his 368 career home runs will be felt, but he seemed indifferent at times last season and the Braves offense suffered because of it. Teixeira takes over as the full-time cleanup hitter and will make those around him - Chipper Jones and Jeff Francoeur - more productive hitters. It will interesting to see how Yunel Escobar handles the lead-off role and the rigors of a full season at shortstop after Edgar Renteria was dealt to Detroit in the off-season. If Kotsay can return to his 15+ home run form of his injury-free years, the Braves offense, especially at the bottom of the order, might not be as weak as many project. Rookie Josh Anderson, acquired from the Astros, will step in if Kotsay can't stay healthy.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.11 (6th), OPP AVG: .259 (6th)
The top three in the rotation are solid, with veterans John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Glavine combining for 645 career wins and the ability to make 90 starts and eat up over 600 innings. After them, things get a little sketchy. They have to hope that lefty Mike Hampton can finally get healthy after missing two full seasons due to elbow problems. The battle for the fifth starter role comes down to incumbent Chuck James and Jair Jurrjens, a hard-thrower acquired from the Tigers in the Renteria deal. Rafael Soriano takes over as the closer with Mike Gonzalez out until at least June. The rest of the bullpen is made up of a collection of what ifs.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Third place and the third-straight season out of the post-season after making it the previous 14. But a strong farm system guarantees they'll be returning to October baseball in the near future.
Manager: Bobby Cox, 23rd season, 2,255-1,764 (.561) career record
New faces: OF Josh Anderson (HOU), RHP Jorge Campillo (SEA), RHP Matt DeSalvo (NYY), LHP Tom Glavine (NYM), IF Omar Infante (DET), RHP Jair Jurrjens (DET), OF Mark Kotsay (OAK), LHP Will Ohman (CHC)
Left town: RHP Jose Ascanio (CHC), RHP Lance Cormier (BAL), RHP Joey Devine (OAK), IF Willie Harris (WSH), OF Andruw Jones (LAD), LHP Ron Mahay (KC), IF Pete Orr (WSH), RHP Chad Paronto (HOU), SS Edgar Renteria (DET), RHP Oscar Villarreal (HOU), IF Chris Woodward (NYY)
Overview: Not like they are going to sneak up on anybody, but the Braves have a good shot at reeling in the Mets and Phillies and returning to the post-season, something that they did for 14-straight seasons from 1991-2005. The starting pitching, which was a bit of a mess last season, has been bolstered by the return of Tom Glavine, who will turn 42 years of age this season and will settle into the three-hole in the rotation. Mark Kotsay, coming off an injury-plagued season with the Athletics, replaces 10-time Gold Glover Andruw Jones in centre. This is a downgrade for a team that seemed to take Jones for granted over the last few seasons and now will find out what life without him is like. Age is an enemy of this veteran team with several key players/pitchers now in their late 30's. But this team has enough talent to compete and manager Bobby Cox still runs a tight ship.
Stat to ponder: Talk about making an instant impact. In the 54 games that Mark Teixeira played in after arriving in a multi-player trade from Texas, he drove in at least one run in 32. Top prospect: OF Brandon Jones: No relation to Chipper or Andruw, this 24-year-old lefty swinger drove in 104 runs between double-A and the majors and will likely finish the season as the everyday left fielder.
Hitting
2007 AVG: .275 (9th), RUNS/GAME: 5.00 (9th), HR: 176 (12th)
The loss of Andruw Jones and his 368 career home runs will be felt, but he seemed indifferent at times last season and the Braves offense suffered because of it. Teixeira takes over as the full-time cleanup hitter and will make those around him - Chipper Jones and Jeff Francoeur - more productive hitters. It will interesting to see how Yunel Escobar handles the lead-off role and the rigors of a full season at shortstop after Edgar Renteria was dealt to Detroit in the off-season. If Kotsay can return to his 15+ home run form of his injury-free years, the Braves offense, especially at the bottom of the order, might not be as weak as many project. Rookie Josh Anderson, acquired from the Astros, will step in if Kotsay can't stay healthy.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.11 (6th), OPP AVG: .259 (6th)
The top three in the rotation are solid, with veterans John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Glavine combining for 645 career wins and the ability to make 90 starts and eat up over 600 innings. After them, things get a little sketchy. They have to hope that lefty Mike Hampton can finally get healthy after missing two full seasons due to elbow problems. The battle for the fifth starter role comes down to incumbent Chuck James and Jair Jurrjens, a hard-thrower acquired from the Tigers in the Renteria deal. Rafael Soriano takes over as the closer with Mike Gonzalez out until at least June. The rest of the bullpen is made up of a collection of what ifs.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Third place and the third-straight season out of the post-season after making it the previous 14. But a strong farm system guarantees they'll be returning to October baseball in the near future.
