Braves cutting Payroll?

Could Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren secretly be cutting the payroll for the 2010 campaign?

The Opening Day payroll for the Braves in 2009 was $94,313,666 million. Frank Wren has trimmed the payroll by dealing Javy Vazquez and his $11.5 million contract to the Yankees in exchange for Melky Cabrera's $3 million contract, prospects and $500,000 cash.

After the Braves officially sign 1B/3B Troy Glaus to a 1 year/$2 million they should have approximately $7-9 million left according the 2009 payroll. Mark Bowman the Braves-beat writer for MLB.com suggest after the Glaus signing "the Braves appear to be done with their major offseason projects." Could this be bad news for Braves fans? I would say so. As of now the 2010 lineup is projected to be:

1. Nate McLouth, CF
2. Martin Prado, 2B
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
4. Troy Glaus, 1B
5. Brian McCann, C
6. Yunel Escobar, SS
7. Matt Diaz, LF
8. Melky Cabrera, RF
9. Starting Pitcher

The Braves finished the 2009 season with the following lineup:

1. Nate McLouth, CF
2. Martin Prado, 2B
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
4. Brian McCann, C
5. Adam LaRoche, 1B
6. Yunel Escobar, SS
7. Matt Diaz, RF
8. Garret Anderson, LF
9. Starting Pitcher

So, the Braves have replaced LaRoche with Troy Glaus who is capable of hitting 30+ HR's and 80+ RBI's if he stays healthy. Frank Wren has essentially swapped Anderson for an equally hitting Melky Cabrera and no other adjustments have been made. With LaRoche in the lineup the Braves still needed another power bat in the lineup to compete with elite teams such as Philadelphia and Los Angeles Dodgers. Should Braves fans panic if Wren does not sign another power bat prior to the start of the 2010 season? Wren has stated he is confident that Heyward can play OF for Opening Day but do we want to take the Schafer approach and potentially have our best prospect in the farm system of this decade fail, or should we take the Hanson approach and let him develop into a better player in the minors? Hopefully Wren will pull the plug and sign a power-bat or acquire a bat via trade. Until then "In Wren we trust."

Braves send Vazquez to the Yankees

Yankees GM Brian Cashman did not wait long to acquire a starting pitcher. After openly stating yesterday that the Yankees were interested in acquiring a starting pitcher, Cashman pulled off a trade this morning for fire-baller Javier Vazquez. Vazquez is coming off a career year after posting a 2.87 ERA AND 238 strikeouts.

The Braves are sending RP Boone Logan along with Vazquez and will receive OF Melky Cabrera, LHP Mike Dunn and 19-year old prospect Arodys Vizcaino. The Yankees have agreed to pay all of Vazquez's salary and will send $500,000 to the Braves.

In Cabrera, the Braves get a career .290 lead-off hitter and above average fielder who can play any position in the outfield. Mike Dunn posted 99 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings in minor-league ball. Vicaino was the #3 prospect in the Yankees organization and has a low-90's fastball and great curveball. Vizcaino could be a sleeper in this deal. He has all the makings of a closer, fanning 52 batters in 42 1/3 innings while only issuing 15 walks. Vizcaino was also ranked as the #3 prospect in the New York-Penn league.

With the departure of Vazquez, the Braves still have six players capable of starting: Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Kenshin Kawakami and Kris Medlen. I'll even go as far to throw in Jo-Jo Reyes into that mix. The question is who will be the ace of this team? Jurrjens is coming off a stellar season but is he ready to become the star of this pitching staff or should we stick with a veteran and go with Hudson or Lowe?

Major Website Changes

Hey y'all hope everyone is having a spectacular offseason.

Here's a quick run-down as to the transactions the Braves have made:

• Signed: free-agent RP Billy Wagner 1 year/$7M (2010), plus 2011 option
• Signed: free-agent RP Takashi Saito 1 year/$3.2M (2010)
• Signed: free-agent RP Juan Abreu 1 year/$400K (2010)
• Offered Arbitration: RP Mike Gonzalez
• Not-Offered Arbitration: OF Garret Anderson, 1B Adam LaRoche, 1B Greg Norton
• DFA: OF Ryan Church
• Non tendered: 2B Kelly Johnson
• Traded RP Rafael Soriano to Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RP Jesse Chavez

Anyway, we are making major changes to AtlantaBravesNation.com for the 2010 season. We are open for suggestions and always love feedback (good or bad, hopefully good). Feel free to add us as a friend on Facebook or send us an email. Also follow us on Twitter.

Remember, Atlanta Braves Nation's got YOU covered for all Braves rumors and news this off-season.

Email: AtlantaBravesNation@gmail.com

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Braves welcome back LaRoche...Bid farewell to Kotchman...

Today marked the last day Major League teams could make a trade. The MLB trade deadline was at 4:00 PM EST. It has come and gone. Former Cy Younger Jake Peavy was dealt to the White Sox again, the Red Sox landed C/1B Victor Martinez and the Braves brought back former 1B Adam LaRoche.

The Braves dealt 1B Casey Kotchman in exchange for Adam LaRoche and cash considerations. Kotchman was acquired at last years deadline in a trade that sent Mark Teixeira to the Angels.

Many Braves fans were caught off guard by the trade because Kotchman has been swinging a hot bat lately. The bottom line is that the Braves acquired a power bat in exchange for a player who hits for average. Adam LaRoche was fantastic his final year in Atlanta. He hit 32 long balls while knocking in 90 runs with a .285 average.

Wren landed one of the best second half hitters in baseball since 2006 in LaRoche. In '06 LaRoche hit 19 HR's, 48 RBI's and a .323 average post All-Star break; last year Adam hit 14 HR's, 42 RBI's and a .304 average. Kotchman's best second half came in 2005 when he launched 7 long-balls, with 22 RBI's and a .302 average. Although LaRoche has a much better bat, Kotchman plays better defense.

Kotchman is under team control for an additional 2 years and LaRoche becomes a free-agent after this season. But maybe the Braves will be able to reach a deal with the player they drafted in the 29th round of the 2000 draft. Tit-for-tat the Braves dealt a good fielder for a power bat which the lineup is lacking.

My projections have a healthy Braves lineup as follow:

1. McLouth CF
2. Prado 2B
3. Jones 3B
4. McCann C
5. LaRoche 1B
6. Escobar SS
7. Anderson LF
8. Church/Diaz RF
9. SP

Has Escobar taken his last at-bat as a Brave?

Tonight Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar may have made his final plate appearance in a Braves uniform. Yunel drove in an RBI single in the bottom of the 8th to put the Braves ahead 10-1.

The Havanian middle-infielder has a career batting average of .300 and has been one the best best leadoff hitters for the Braves the past few years tallying a .309 average, 6 HR's, 34 RBI's and an astonishing 54 runs in 320 at-bats from the #1 spot in the order.

Although Yunel's offensive numbers are quit impressive for a shortstop his mental errors in the field are not impressing anyone; including Bobby Cox who has sat Escobar for 5 straight games. Yunel has been one of the worst everyday shortstops in the NL this year. He has committed 11 errors while maintaining a .961 fielders percentage in the diamond. Ironic how things have shifted from last year. The most ironic thing is the fact that Jake Peavy apparently would have rejected a trade to the Braves because he did not want to loose the good defense of Yunel Escobar (who was a player that was going to be involved in the Peavy-Atl. trade).

So fans, the rumor mill is brewing that GM Frank Wren is willing to trade Yunel for a "good hitter." What is a "good hitter?" I consider Yunel to be a good hitter, and would it hurt the Braves more to start a guy like Diory or Infante at shortstop everyday so they can get a power bat in the lineup? What do y'all think? Is Adrian Gonzalez still a reasonable trading piece?

Strikeouts do not trasnlate into Wins!

For years I have been saying one of the most overrated stats in baseball are strikeouts.

Most baseball fans tend to disagree. Strikeouts are definitely one of the most entertaining things in the game. I think we can all agree that there is nothing better late in a close-game than a 3-2 strikeout with runners in scoring position to end the inning/game.

Although strikeouts are certainly exciting they don't necessarily translate into wins for the starting pitcher or the team. Point and reasoning is our beloved Javy Vazquez.

Javy is first in the majors with 125 K's, 8th in the NL in ERA, averaging 1.94 BB/9 and 5.43 K/BB. His stats are fantastic and batters are only hitting a measly .230 against him. The main issue with Vazquez is lack of run support with the Braves.

However what makes Javy the perfect candidate for the reasoning is the fact that he has a career loosing record and is one of baseball best strikeout pitchers the past decade. Javy's years as a Expo were wasted with a bad team but he has played for contending teams since leaving Montreal. Strikeouts only excite the fans but do not translate into wins for the pitcher or team. Other pitchers in the past few years that have faced similar dilemma are Zach Greinke, Gil Meche, Matt Cain, Erik Bedard and Ian Snell. That's why a hitter who is capable of blasting 40 HR's and 110 RBI's is more effective than pitcher who tallies 200 K's a year. Yet again a prime-time hitter is more effective and useful to a team in modern-day MLB than a ace-starter.

Change is Coming...

It's time for change for the Atlanta Braves organization...

Whether that involves sitting or trading a local outfielder who was the Sports Illustrated coverboy, Jeff Francoeur; or making another major move such as asking a future Hall-of-Fame coach to step down because he cannot get the message across to his players.

Simply put this team is not cutting it. The Braves playoff drought has been 3 long and miserable years. Fan support is the lowest it has been in five years (based on attendance numbers at The Ted and television viewers). The only way this team is going to regain the pride and prestige they had in the 90's is by making a key change NOW! The Braves have to make the playoffs this year if they want to retain an above-average fan base, make an attempt at luring key free-agents this off-season and most importantly bring some hope back into players that have not had the opportunity to reach the playoffs.

The Braves clearly have the pitching to get it done but their hitting is questionable. The addition of Nate McLouth brought necessary speed and power to the top of the lineup, but their 6-8 spots of the lineup are killing the team. Casey Kotchman is a pathetic excuse for a 1B from an offensive point-of-view, he not only lacks power but he is also slow around the bases. Jeff Francoeur the Braves usual #7 hitter is batting a measly .245 and Kelly Johnson the Braves #8 hitter is hitting a devastating .224. On top of that Frenchy has the 10th lowest OBP in the majors! But to put the icing on the cake, Kelly Johnson is not far behind him at 16. In order to be a successful team in the major these days you have to receive input from all your hitters. Whether the top of the lineup is providing power and bottom is playing small ball you can not rely on 3-4 hitters to win you ball games consistently.

Since the Braves lost that devastating Game 7 in Houston off a Chris Burke walk-off HR (irony) Bobby Cox and company have posted a 267-286 record. That won't get it done in Boston, that sure as heck won't cut it in New York, so why is this record acceptable in Atlanta?

Fantasy Stew with Chef TK

WHEN THE INJURY BUG ATTACKS

Webb. Kazmir. Hamilton. Sizemore. Putz. Lidge. Reyes. Quentin.

These are just a few names that have not been in your lineup due to the always lingering stress of fantasy baseball - INJURY. At the start, you probably looked over your lineup after draft day and felt like the future was full of hope. Then the future happened. The season is a long one and we are all likely to experience a week or more when the guys we count on go on the shelve. What can we do?

The waiver fire is an ocean full of hope. But can we find the Gold Fish instead of pulling seaweed. By golly...we can try!

Here are some names that could be waiting to play fill in as our starters on the DL rest their boo boos.

Manny Parra SP Brewers - I know. First thing you see is his 3-7 record. But Manny plays on a good offensive team and provides a better chance to get run support then alot of the pitchers on the waiver wire. His history shows he is bound to climb back to a more reasonable win/loss line.

Kenshin Kawakami SP Braves - Kenshin is a lost value on the braves pitching rotation. He scared off alot of owners with early fatigue and inconsistency. Still, he hasn't allowed more then 3 runs in his last 7 starts and the Braves offense has just gotten a major face lift in Nate McLouth. He has also showed the ability to rack up some Ks.

Chris Duncan OF Cardinals - Chris hasn't put up the pop that usually comes with his name but he has seen 177 at bats and has 73 total bases. He has the upside to give you a homer here, homer there while someone like Josh Hamilton recovers. Yet, if you are in a league that penalizes strikeouts, stay away.

Jack Wilson SS Pirates - Captain Jack is a very underrated player. He is also someone who has been involved in trade rumors and could soar in stock if dealt to a contender. Don't expect a ton of runs but he can spray the hits and give you Average.

Andrew Bailey RP Athletics - Bailey has been sneaking around the closers spot the last few days. He has 3 saves in the month of June and may quietly become the man as many forget there is still baseball in Oakland. If Bailey can get you some saves while your closer recovers, then its like striking gold all over again on the west coast.

QUICKIES

The MLB Draft happened today. If your in a keeper league, keep your eyes open on how they progress but don't hold your breath for this season value.

Nate McLouth has the ability to make every player in the Braves lineup better. Sparkplug effect.

With Boston looking for a shortstop I can see Nick Green posting some numbers to state his case to stay put.

Jose Contreras (SP) has been called up to the White Sox. He is worth a chance on your team.

It feels like the Red Sox pitching staff (besides Beckett) will either throw no hitters or get shelled. Hopefully the Russian..err...Boston Roulette ends soon.

ANSWER THIS!!!

AL CY YOUNG...Halladay or Greinke?

Medlen's PINK Backpack...

For those who missed it Kris Medlen has been spotted numerous times sporting a pink backup while making his way to the bullpen prior to the ballgame. Being as Medlen is a rookie, he is required to carry the backpack to the bullpen every game. 

The pack is filled with goodies such as candy, sunflower seeds and gum.

Hanson to make Braves Debut on Sunday

With all of the roster changes, there has been alot of craziness going around the Braves locker room. From the release of the veteran Glavine, to the addition of All-Star CF Nate McLouth, to the calling up of young potential ace Tommy Hanson, the Braves are sitting pretty in the NL East! Hanson, named the #1 prospect in all of baseball, will be facing a tough lineup in the Milwaulkee Brewers Sunday. He needs to go up and try to get groundballs, and not have the usual mindstate of "striking everyone out". He's gonna need to be able to handle his excitement of pitching in the majors in order to translate into a successful outing. I look forward to seeing how he will perform. With the Braves 5.5 games back, Hanson isn't under too much pressure, which should help his mind-set headed into the game. 

With encouraging teammates such as Derek Lowe, Brian McCann, and Chipper Jones, Hanson should receive the motivation needed to mow down the hitters. If he's able to pull-off a quality start, it could be a bright sign for the Braves future! 

Atlanta Braves Projected Lineup

With the addition of Nate McLouth the Braves lineup trades drastically. McLouth not only brings power to a struggling offense but he will provide the Braves with much needed speed on the basepath. McLouth has swiped 20 bags the past two season, lead the NL in doubles and was sixth in the majors in the runs in '08.

Why wait until 6:30 PM tonight forthe lineups will to be released, when here is what the card read. 

1. Nate McLouth, CF
   
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
   
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
   
4. Brian McCann, C
   
5. Garret Anderson, LF
   
6. Jeff Francoeur, RF
   
7. Kelly Johnson, 2B
   
8. Martin Prado, 1B
   
9. Jair Jurrjens, SP
   

So, what do y'all think? Are you pleased with this lineup? 

Braves trade for Nate McLouth...Hanson to start Saturday

The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates have reached an agreement to trade for outfielder Nate McLouth. Nate McLouth is coming off a terrific 2008 season in which he tallied 26 HR's and 96 RBI's while maintaing a .276 batting average. In 2008 he lead the National League in doubles with 46, was sixth in the majors in runs scored and won a Gold Glove. 

According to an MLB official the Braves are sending Charlie Morton, Gorkys Hernandez and Jeff Locke to Pittsburgh for All-Star Nate McLouth. 

McLouth did sign a three-year extension with the Pirates in February. Here is the breakdown: 

2009 - $3.5 million ($2 million base and $1.5 million bonus)

2010 - $4.5 million

2011 - $7.75 million ($6.5 million base with $1.25 million buyout in 2012)

2012 - $9.4 million club option

Frank Wren did suggest that he will be a leadoff hitter; my guess is Bobby will utilize him as leadoff when McCann is in the lineup and bat him cleanup when McCann has the day off. 

As for Tommy Hanson; the Braves top pitching prospect is getting the call to the big-leagues. He will start Saturday vs. the Brewers. Hanson will move into the rotation as the 5th starter and his roommate will be Kris Medlen. Tommy has been fantastic pitching for Gwinnett posting a 1.49 ERA while striking out 90 batting and only issuing 17 walks in 66 1/3 innings.

Website Maintenance

Dear loyal Atlanta Braves Nation fans,

We are currently experiencing difficulties with the website. We are working on fixing these issues; hopefully the chat will be up and running shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Go Bravos! 

Fantasy Stew with Chef TK

It's Time.

The day has arrived.

One of the most hyped players in fantasy baseball is set to make his debut Friday. While most who own him are probably filled with excitement, I think there is also hidden anxiety. A Matt Wieters owner in deep leagues secured him on draft day sacrificing a spot on his roster until this moment. This includes days where his other catcher may of been given days off. This, in my eyes, makes him a higher gamble then waiting for David Price or a Braun/Longoria in days past. In fantasy, stability at the catching position can go a long way. Wieters has much to prove for those that used a legit pick on him in the draft.

Still, Wieters has proven himself in AAA with 5 homers and a .305 average. The Orioles lineup is fantasy friendly so he will have plenty of chances to drive batters in and make owners look like future GMs.

The Wieters restless should also take comfort in team president Andy MacPhail saying, "The lineup is up to the manager, but we didn't bring him up here to sit. Matt Wieters isn't going to do a lot of sitting...He's here to be the catcher."

Let the season now officially begin for all you owners out there.

P.S. Are you hearing any trade offers for him ;-)

Quickies

David Wright. Homers. Please?

Carlos Zambrano is a bull dog. Suspension means 1 start instead of 2 next week.

Mark Teixeira on a tear. New York City glad to get past the awkward slow start first date.

Kerry Wood gets 8th save. As long as he stays healthy he will be finish as a great value. Indians are bound to get hot as well.

Aramis Ramirez injury situation gives me a bad feeling in my stomach. Plan accordingly.

ANSWER TIME!

How many wins will Zach Greinke finish with???

Braves Skipper Shuffles Lineup

Skipper Cox's Lineup Changes Lead To Wins?

Bobby Cox hasn't always been a huge person on switching the Atlanta Braves lineup around, but, I guess things change, right? What a surprise! The Braves' skipper shuffled the lineup for the Braves, and since then the Braves have won every game, scoring many runs, rallying, and playing great baseball. So here's the question - Will he stick with this lineup? Some of you probably don't think so, but it looks like it's working! As long as it is working, it shouldn't be changed. Cox's notorious lineup changes could make the Braves serious contenders in the division! If their was one thing I would do different, it would be to put Schafer at leadoff. He is the only speed threat, and has a great OBP. It certainly must be better than KJ, and KJ hits better low in the lineup. Swap them, and the Braves could be near unbeatable! I will be taking a closer look to the moves Bobby make and I will be studying them. I hope to see more great decisions!


-DeepRally / Clyde

Fantasy Stew with Chef TK

A BRAVE NEW WORLD

Hey kids. Every week I am bringing to the kitchen here at Atlanta Braves Nation a hosh posh of fantasy info, advice, and personal tips I hope can help you all reach the promise land in your fantasy leagues. Bascially, let's win you a stimulus package. To kick things off, I start respectively with a new brave.

They say pitching is contagious. Or was it swine flu? Lets hope the first is the case when talking about Kris Medlen. He gets the nod against the Rockies tomorrow night and sports a 5-0 record with a 1.96 ERA with AAA Gwinett. At first glance, Medlen appears more likely to hand Chipper a new bat than someone who should taking the mound but don't let the baby face fool you. He has a 44/10 K:BB ratio and should settle in nicely to the rotation. I believe you should take a chance on Medlen but dont expect a long term fix. Medlen is known to go after batters so alot is up to the defense behind him as well as his ability to shake off the Major League nerves. Also, the 5th spot for the braves seems destined to be a revolving door this season. Still, if Medlen can at least keep the Rockies in the park and have a decent outing, you'll be set up for great upside his next starts.


QUICKIES

David Ortiz has finally hit his first homer. Hurry up and buy low.

I'm not buying Raul Ibanez keeping up this pace. Citizen Bank Park in all its cupcake glory can be quite the mirage. Why do i sense a winter cool off in June?

David Wright has quietly regained form. Sit back and enjoy the homers.

Jimmy Rollins might have cement shoes the entire season when explaining his SBs but i still think he will turn things around...see if a owner has had enough.

In Detroit you should be riding the Rick Porcello train not the D Train.


ANSWER TIME!

Which 3-4 hitter combo do you like better?

* Tex and Arod

* Mauer and Morneau

B-mac is Back!

B-Man is back and hopefully so are the Bravos. Brian McCann entered Spring Training like a whole new guy. He lost the weight that had been slowing him down, worked on his batting in the off-season, and stepped up to the plate to become one of the new club house figures and essential power hitters. But his ealry spring training success ended abruptly with eye problems within the first few weeks of the regular season.

But he's back and already has proven that he is a key to the Bravos success. 

So you might ask, why not to worry about the Braves. The Braves are only two and half games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies. And the moment he put his new Oakley sunglasses on - magic happened. McCann went 3-for-4, giving him four hits and five RBIs in the two games since his return. And he know, as well as all Bravo fans should know that, “We haven’t played with our [full] starting lineup until the last two days, really,” said McCann. 

Don't forget, B-Man hit .301 last year, with an on base percentage of .373, 23 HRs and 87 RBIs. He already blasted 3 HR's and 11 RBIs and is in the best shape of his career. Bravo fans - don't loose hope. I have a feeling the April showers are gone and the Braves are ready to get hot in HotLanta. 

BE AGGRESSIVE

Chip and Joe brought up an interesting topic tonight during the game. The duo suggested that the Braves become more aggressive on the base-path and I completely agree with them. Since the Braves are not going to be smacking the ball out of the park, they need to find a way to put runs on the board in a quicker and more efficient manner. 

Rookie Jordan Schafer has the speed to swipe 20-25 bags a year. Schafer has an excellent first step and strides through the diamond smoothly. Yunel Escobar is another interesting player. Yunel, is one of the more aggressive base-runners on the team, but at the same token he is prone to make bonehead mistakes on the basepath. If Matt Diaz, Garret Anderson (currently on the DL) and Brandon Jones do not start showing that they are worthy of being slotted into the Braves lineup then we will be forced re-call Gregor Blanco who was arguably one of the best Braves base-runners last year.

A Case for Brandon Jones

Two years ago I went to Braves Spring Training in beautiful Lake Buena Vista, Florida. If I recall correctly, we crushed the Tigers largely because of a young out-fielder's bat, Brandon Jones. Jones displayed power, patience and promise during the game. At the time, I wasn't sure if the Bravos lineup could handle a third Jones on the team and was positive that another year in the minors would benefit Jones to becoming a better ball player.

Last year, Brandon Jones had a .261 batting average in 116 for the Atlanta Braves. He notched 16 RBI's and a HR. 

Overall I believe Brandon Jones would contribute to the current Braves lineup more than backup 1B/OF Greg Norton (who is currently 0-11). Jones could serve as a backup OF coming off the bench, and with the news that Garret Anderson may be headed back to the DL, B. Jones could be given a shot to compete for the starting job in LF. Jones has line-drive power and a good glove. His only lurking issue at the Major League level is his plate discipline. Last season Jones struck out 24% of the time. If he can become a more patient hitter his natural athleticism will pay off and Mr. Jones will become a key role player on the Braves bench. 

Dump the Slump

The Atlanta Braves began the 2009 season by heading into Philadelphia and taking two of three from the World Champs. Following a successful stint in Pennsylvania the Braves swept the Nationals at the Ted. All the woes from the past few seasons seemed to be in the rear-view mirror. The only lurking hole was the bullpen.  

After going 5-1 the Braves dropped 5 straight. The Braves eventually took the series finale versus the Pirates, but are now 6-7 after dropping last nights game to the 1-win Nationals. As a Braves fan I am mildly concerned with where this team is headed. The off-season appeared to be successful. Wren revamped our starting pitching by adding two veterans and Kenshin Kawakami, a SP deemed a better version of the Dodgers Hiroki Kuroda. 

Brian McCann visited an eye-specialist today to receive treatment for his blurred vision. The good news is that apparently his sight problems have been solved with some contact lens. On the other hand, Garret Anderson appears to be headed to the DL to recover from a strain in his left quad. Makes me wonder if signing Tommy Glavine to a 1-year deal was necessary and if the Braves should have forked over some more money for a more reliable OF such as Bobby Abreu. I would not be surprised if the Braves end up dealing some of starting pitching for a power bat. The Braves have a surplus of SP's and could definitely use another pop in the lineup.  

Overall, it is still fairly early and the difference between this Braves team and the past years is that this team expects to win. The Braves are not going to allow the team to continue to fail; most of the players have missed out on the playoffs the past three season and I am sure they have that craving to play post-season ball in October. 

I woke up this morning with the biggest smile on my face. Not only did I turn 31 years old today, but MLB is back! And well, the biggest present of today is that the Braves are taking on the Phillies at 8 pm tonight.

The Braves had an impressive Spring Training in the Grapefruit League. By acquiring a new set of pitchers, the Bravos have made it clear that they will focus on pitching this year - a key aspect of the Braves success in the 90's.

With McCann in the best shape he has been in years, we can only imagine how much he is going to be a pitchers nightmare. Chipper Jones, who recently locked up a 3-year, $42 million extension with the Braves is like a fine wine as Mr. Braves seems to be getting better with age. The past three seasons Chipper has had an OPS higher than 1.000 and a batting average higher than .320. Look for Javy Vazquez to be a sleeper for 200 strikeouts and Jair Jurrjens to tally 14-15 wins. A healthy bullpen will translate into success for the Braves. Jordan Schafer, who recently was announced the starting CF for Opening Day has potential to snag 20-30 bags giving the Braves much needed speed on the base-path. Frenchy's strong play in Spring Training should boost his confidence heading into the most important year of his career thus far.

Please join us for a Live Chat and Live play-by-play coverage of the Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies at 8 pm EST tonight!

Enter Live Chat!

Let's go Braves! 

USA USA USA!

Was tonight merely a repeat of the 1980 Olympics when Team USA made a miraculous comeback to beat the Russians? Well maybe not exactly...but in some sense, indeed it was! Team USA had some help from across the 50 states to make a ninth inning comeback versus Puerto Rico. 

USA trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the 9th facing elimination for the second straight game. Shane "The Flyin' Hawaiian" Victorino started things off in the 9th inning with a single. The boy from Down South, Brian Roberts followed up with a single of his own. Mr. Yankee, Derek Jeter had a sac-fly which allowed Victorino to move over to third base. Brian Roberts eventually stole second base and the kid from California, named Jimmy drew a walk which loaded the bases. With ducks on the pond the kid nicknamed Youk from Bean-Town drew a walk making it a one run ball game. 

Mr. Met (sigh...), hit a 2 run-blooper into right field to win the game! Team USA jolted out of the dugout onto the field as if a Starbucks had just opened up in the middle of nowhere...This was the first time I had seen the team get excited about anything since Game 1 of the tourny.

I was questioning manager Davey Johnson's gameplan all game for possibly not inspiring and motivating players enough. Maybe I was wrong...

This is an American sport, heck' it's America's Pastime! Let keep it that way!

Stockman Cut; WBC Update

The Braves cut injury prone RP Phil Stockman on Sunday. The English RP only appeared in six games last year for the Braves at the Major league level. Stockman had a 2.10 ERA in 19 appearances in AAA-ball for the Richmond Braves. 

As for the World Baseball Classic, USA lost their first game to Puerto Rico in a stunning fashion going down 11-1. The Puerto Rican's were anchored by a great pitching performance from Bravos SP Javier Vazquez. Vazquez tossed four strong innings of ball, striking out two batters while only sacrificing four hits and one run. The PR batting lineup filled with New York Mets players went on a tear against Jake Peavy. Peavy now has a 14.40 ERA in the Classic, and appears to have some control issues. 

Chipper Jones sat out tonight's game versus the Netherlands with an oblique injury. His return will be evaluated by team doctors. As for Garret Anderson, he will be sidelined for at least two-three weeks with a right calf injury. The AJC reports that the Braves are hopeful that Anderson will be starting in LF for Opening Day versus the Phillies April 5th. 

Braves should deal PRADO!

GM Frank Wren should be looking to deal 2B Martin Prado. The Venezuelan infielder hit .320 in over 200 at-bats last year for the Braves. FanGraphs predicts that Prado will have rack up a .300 batting average in over 300 at-bats in 2009. But where are those figures coming from? Are they suggesting that the Braves will not feature Kelly Johnson in the lineup nearly as much as they have in the past? Do they anticipate him to earn some time at 3B and 1B? Too me its uncertain how he will get the extra AB's, unless an infielder gets injured along the way. 

So, why not make a push for a player like Adrain Gonzalez or Prince Fielder. Both of those respected teams could use an upgrade at 2B and were comfortable shopping their studly 1B's earlier this off-season. Before Fielder agreed to a two-year extension with the Brew-Crew, Milwaukee management was in serious discussions with Adam Dunn. This hindered the possibility of signing Dunn, moving him to 1B and dealing Fielder. As for Gonzalez, its been no secret that the Padres were shopping him around this off-season seeking young talent. The Braves could easily package Prado with one of the young OF's (not named Heyward or Schafer), and 1B Casey Kotchman into the equation; and you've got Howie Mandel screaming "Lets make a deal!"  

Again, this is just speculation. But like the old McWorld commercial for McDonals used to say "Hey! It could happen..." 

Player Preview: The Bullpen

In 2008 the Braves finished last in the league with 26 saves. The bullpen also had one of the highest ERA'S in the majors. I can't fail to mention that this only occurred after the Braves lost flamethrower Rafy Soriano and Aussie-Peter Moylan.

Closer, Mike Gonzalez pitched a dismal 36 games in 2008 returning from Tommy John Surgery.  For the most part Gonzo's stuff looked pretty solid. The Cobra posted a 3/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio but his control was a little wild. Gonzalez will serve as the Braves closer if he remains healthy and keeps his pitching under-control. When steady, Gonzo can be one of the better closers in the league utilizing a fastball that reaches the mid-90's and nasty slider. 

Peter Moylan is coming off Tommy John Surgery also. In 2006 the pitcher from "Down-Under" posted a wicked 1.80 ERA while tallying 63 K's in 90 innings of work. The sidearmers arsenal features a mid-90's fastball. If Peter is capable of fully recovering from Tommy John, he will serve as a vital Set-up man in the Braves bullpen. 

Rafael Soriano is another Braves relief pitcher attempting to make a comeback from surgery. Soriano is predicted to be a Set-up man out of the 'pen, but could battle for the closing spot with Gonzalez. Soriano, has some of the best stuff in the league when he is healthy. He has a career 0.87 ERA vs. righties and has posted 160 K's in 144.1 innings of work! Soriano's moving fastball clocks out in the upper-90's and he throws a wicked slider. 

Look for newly acquired lefty-Eric O'Flahetry and Boone Logan to make a contribution out of the 'pen. O'Flahtery, who is one of the few lefties in the Braves bullpen, will mostly be used during situations where his southpaw arm will confuse opposing batters. Don't count out Manny Acosta whom Bobby Cox frequently uses in ground-ball situations and Atlanta native Blaine Boyer who has closer material but has some control issues. Boyer, tallied a whopping 67 strikeouts in 72 innings of work, while only suffering 25 walks. 

Are there any other players that ya'll expect to contribute from the 'pen this year? Who do ya'll think will serve as the Braves closer this year? Will injuries lurk over the bullpen as they have the past few years? 

World Baseball Classic Update

Hey folks! Websites almost ready to go! 

Anyways, here a quick Bravos update. Garret Anderson hurt his calf while jogging before Friday's game and is unsure when he'll be back. Anderson has only been on the disabled-list two times prior to coming to Atlanta. 

The World Baseball Classic kicked off Thursday. U.S.A. won a nail-bitter versus Canada on Saturday. Brian McCann had a long ball and 3 RBI's while Chipper whiffed three times! Yikes... Jake Peavy, SP of the first game looked decent; kind of makes me wonder if he is going to be able to rebound after a rough 2008 season. Maybe, Wren saw something that made him hesitant to deal Yunel Escobar and other prospects. 

Sunday night, U.S.A pounced Venezuela for 15 runs. Former Bravo Mark DeRosa had 4 RBI's while Chipper struck out two times. Chipper, who is hitless thus far in the Classic has a mild strain on his right side but says he okay for the next round of the WBC. Chipper claims that it would be near impossible to try and keep him off the field, because his offense has not contributed to the team in any way. 

Things are looking a lot better for Team USA this year, but I am still shocked that players like Roy Halladay and Brandon Webb turned down offers to don the American flag on their jersey. 

What do ya'll think of Team USA's play so far? Do ya'll think they have a shot to go the distance?  

Player Preview: Brian McCann

Hey folks! It's was a pretty hectic weekend trying to update this website, hopefully we'll see a newly revamped aBn website shortly. 

Now for the blog de jour. For this edition of aBn player preview we will look at All-Star catcher Brian McCann. McCann ranked 12th in the N.L. last year in batting average, and 1st among catchers in the N.L.  Compared to other catchers around M.L.B., B-Mac tied for first with Cubbie Geovany Soto with 23 HR's, 2nd in RBI's behind Bengie Molina, and 1st in OPS and SLG %. WOW! these ecstatic numbers come in just McCann's third full year in the league. 

McCann is arguably the best offensive catcher in the league but his defense is worry-some. Last year McCann allowed 70 SB's while only throwing-out 21.3% of his runners. Defense is definitely an area that B-Mac could improve on and he has made a serious attempt to strengthen his defensive game this off-season. 

While B-Mac has tried to take his defensive game to the next flight, the Braves signed 7-year veteran David Ross. Ross will serve as a backup but he is regarded as one of the better defensive catchers in the game. Ross has thrown out 38.2% runners that have tried to steal on him during his career. McCann, who has never had a strong-defensive catching mentor backing him up will probably pick up a few pointers along the way from David Ross. Todd Pratt who served as the Braves backup catcher during the 2006 season was statistically a terrible catcher and was mainly signed to add a veteran presence to a young Braves team at the time. 

With that said, I expect McCann to post similar numbers to '08 if not better. With a healthy Chipper Jones and revamped Jeff Francoeur hitting in front of McCann, B-Mac has a shot to rack in 100 RBI's and 20 HR's while maintaining a .290-.300 BA. 

Anyways what type of numbers do ya'll expect from Brian McCann this season?

Braves Season Preview...Giants Fan Perspective

I'm sorry I have not written in so long, but I have been terribly busy this week working on revamping AtlantaBravesNation.com  An updated website could come as early as Monday. Anyways I asked my baseball buddy Christian, who is a S.F. Giants fan to share his thoughts about the Braves this year. 

Hey there, Braves nation! My name is Christian, and I'll be your guest writer for the day. First, a bit on me: I'm a die-hard Giants fan (no bias here), and I hate the damn Mets. Chief has asked me to write a piece on the Braves chances, so here goes!

Last year, the Braves finished with a dismal 72 wins, 20 games behind the Phillies. 2009, however, looks significantly better for the Braves. The Mets have improved the bullpen, and I'm going to go ahead and say they are the team to beat, but the Phillies and Marlins have only gone backwards. The Phillies replaced Pat Burrell with an older, slower and significantly worse Raul Ibanez. Their set-up man, Ryan Madsen, has received a 50 game suspension for testing positive to a banned substance, and their star 2B, Chase Utley, is attempting to come off hip surgery. The Marlins have also gotten worse, as they have traded several players in cost cutting and rebuilding measures. The Nationals, I won't talk about, because hey, they're the Nationals.

While most everyone else got worse, the Braves have only gotten better. While Teixeira is gone, Kotchman is a very capable replacement first base man, and I'm sure the Angels will sorely miss him this year. Kawakami projects to be a starter very similar to Hiroki Kuroda, but if the scouting reports are to be believed, he has better stuff. 200 innings with an ERA under 4 are easily attainable. While  I'm sure Braves fan are upset they missed out on Burnett, Lowe has a very similar ERA, and he's much less injury prone. Across the board, the Braves have improved, and the projections agree. PECTOA preseason projections have Braves tied with the Phillies and only 5 game back of the Mets, while the CHONE projections have the Braves one game back of the Phillies and tied with the Mets. While the Braves are no lock, this year they return to contention.

Thanks Chrisitian! If you want to be a guest writer contact aBn via email at AtlantaBravesNation@gmail.com How do ya'll feel about these projections? Do you think he is spot on or is not seeing the picture. I think its always a good idea to get an 'outsiders' perspective. 

Braves add Veteran OF....Chipper Talks about Tommy Hanson

The Braves and 14-year veteran Garrett Anderson reached a one-year agreement today. The deal is believed to be worth $2.5 million. The signing comes only a fews days after the Bravos missed out of Ken Griffey Jr. (in case you missed out on the drama of that saga, the episode will be re-aired on Oxygen Network sometime this week) An official announcement of the Anderson signing could come as early as Monday morning. Anderson is expected to join the Braves in beautiful Lake Buena Vista, Florida for Spring Training this week. Bobby Cox raved about Garret Anderson in an interview earlier this week. Cox said, "He's got one of the sweetest swings baseball. He's a guy you want up with the game on the line, and he uses all field. I hope we get him." As Hank Hill always says "Dangit Bobby!", we'll guess what, you got your man! 

Anderson is a career .296 hitter and has drove in 80+ RBI's eight of the past nine seasons. Anderson may not be the home run threat he once was but is still capable of hitting 15-20 HR's with under 500 AB's. Anderson will platoon at LF with Matt Diaz.  Oh by-the-way, did I mention Anderson is three-time All Star, winner of the 2003 Home Run Derby, two-time Silver Slugger and is a member of the "Top 500 Home-Run hitters of All Time." 

As for 6-6 Tommy Hanson, Chipper Jones absolutely raved about this kid in a interview with AJC.com Braves beat-writer David O'Brien. Chipper said this about Tommy's control, "Very impressive. He's probably got the best stuff of anybody in this clubhouse, he throws 93-94 with good movement. Great slider. You're talking about a kid that young who can command four pitches. To do what he did in the Arizona Fall League, which has never been done... pretty impressive kid." In the A.F.L. league Hanson made five starts. He posted a 5-0 record, 0.63 E.R.A., and struck out  49 hitters in 28.2, yes 28.2 innings. There's no typo there folks this kid is the real-deal. Oh and don't forget about the no-hitter Tommy threw in Class AA for the Mississippi Braves, while striking out 13 batters. 

Folks, Chipper has been around the league for 14-years and has been teammates with future H.O.F. pitchers such as Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Those are some pretty strong words coming from a guy of Chipper notoriety. 

Hanson is currently aBn's #2 prospect in the Braves organization and a strong showing in Spring Training could definitely benefit Hanson for an attempt to make the Braves roster mid-season this year. 

What type of numbers do ya'll expect from Anderson this year? What do ya'll think about Tommy Hason? Is a stud is he going to be a bust?

Player Preview: Derek Lowe

Today we bring you another edition of "aBn Player Preview." Derek Lowe signed a 4 yr./$60 million deal with the Braves a few days after Smoltzie signed with the Bo-Sox in 'mid January. Lowe is coming off a strong season serving as the L.A. Dodger's ace. He posted a 14-11 record, 3.24 ERA and struck out 147 batters. Lowe has never been a strikeout pitcher, but more so the type of pitcher who attempts to out-smart his opponent and creates ground balls. Lowe will benefit from the Bravos strong defensive infield and the 'pitcher-friendly' environment at Turner Field. 

Since 2002, only two other pitchers in MLB have tallied more wins than Lowe. 

1. Roy Oswalt, HOU 115
2. Roy HalladaY, TOR 113
3. Derek Lowe, ATL 106 

Lowe has also earned 12+ wins in every season since becoming a full-time SP. In 2002, Lowe notched 21 wins in 32 appearances for the Bo-Sox. In 2004, Lowe was the winner of the deciding game of the ALDS, ALCS and World Series. 

Lowe will serve as the Braves ace this year. Lowe is definitely capable of pitching deep into the game, last year he averaged 6 2/3 innings per game in 34 appearances. During his seven year career as a SP, Lowe has pitched 200+ innings five times. With Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez at the helm, the Braves can expect two SP's to provide the team with 200+ innings. This will definitely benefit the bullpen, which became tiresome near the end of the season due to lack of innings pitched by starters. 

With that in mind, what type of numbers do ya'll think Derek Lowe will have this year? 

Braves Lock Up Glavine and Frenchy too!

300-game winner Tom Glavine and the Atlanta Braves have inked a 1-year contract with a $1 million base-salary. Incentives could stretch the deal to $4.5 million. Glavine is a two-time Cy Younger, has appeared in 10 All-Star Games and the 1995 World Series MVP. 

Glavine had a brief stint for the New York Mets between 2003-2007. Glavine signed as a free-agent last year with the Braves for $8 million. The Braves have slotted Glavine into the 5th spot in the rotation, but look for him to compete for the #4 with Kawakami when Glavine is 100% . 

The Braves and Jeff Francoeur agreed to a $3.375 million contract for 2009. Frenchy can earn up to $25,00 in bonuses. The interesting part of Frenchy deal, it that it comes a day after missing out of Griffey.  ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Braves will most likely look for a "internal option" at outfield. Some players mentioned are: Gregor Blanco, Josh Anderson (who came over last season from the Astros via the Oscar Villrreal trade) and aBn's #3 prospect Jordan Schaffer. Schaffer's probably got the best shot of earning the CF spot for Opening Day but don't count out Anderson who was once regarded as a top prospect by Baseball America. 

aBn: We Know Drama! Ken Griffey signs with M's

Another bad day in Bravo-land this off-season. Ken Griffey Jr. who appeared to be headed to Lake Buena Vista, Florida for Braves Spring Training decided to sign with the Seattle Mariners tonight. The deal is reported to be a 1-year contract, that guarantees Jr. $2 million, and Jr. can earn up to $4.5 million in incentives based on at-bats and M's attendance. The M's are projecting that they will draw an additional 200,000 fans at Safeco Field by having Griffey on their roster. 

Braves beat-writer Mark Bowman says, "Griffey's tide turned shortly after he became upset with the fact that The Atlanta-Journal Constitution was reporting the he'd already decided to play for the Braves." 

Griffey Jr., has always expressed interest in playing for Bobby Cox, with Chipper Jones and for the Braves organization that his father competed for in the 80's. It's somewhat ironic how Griffey has had two chances in his lifetime to sign with the Braves; once in 1999 and this one being the most recent opportunity. Don't forget, Griffey called the Braves campaigning for a job just last week. Looks like Frank Wren may have got "Furcaled!"

Two Deals in the Works....

Ken Griffey Jr. and the Braves have yet to agree to a contract. Rumors have been circulating around the 'sports-world' that Griffey was going to sign a 1-year deal worth $2 million, but is he is hesitate to agree to terms with Atlanta because he does not want to upset M's fans. I am still keen on the Griffey signing and confident that he is capable of hitting 20 HR's, 60-70 RBI's while maintaing a .250 average. The only thing that troubles me about Griffey are the injury risks he brings with him. 

Atlanta Journal Constitution's Braves beat-writer David O'Brien discusses the possibility of Chipper Jones signing an extension with the Bravos. Chipper is like a fine-wine, and is getting better in age. Chipper has hit above .320 the past three seasons and is by far one of the best hitters in baseball. He outsmarts his oppnonets by drivng the ball to the opposite field and can hit for power or average. If Chipper is capable of putting up similar numbers to what he has the past couple of years I would be willing to offer him 3-4 years. 

Player Preview: Chipper Jones

Sorry for the late blog today... Anyways, there's not much going on in Bravos-land today. Older news is new news again. The Braves are moving closer to signing both Ken Griffey Jr. and Tom Glavine, but no official statement has been made by either party. 

To kick off this wonderful Tuesday I have decided to start "aBn's Player Preview." Chipper Jones is today's feature. Chipper Jones was selected by the Braves 1st overall pick in the 1990 amateur draft. Ever since then he has become one of Atlanta's most prestigious sports icons. Chipper hit 100+ RBI's for eight-consecutive season (between 1996-2003), but his streak came to a halt while Chipper was battling injuries in '04. In 1999 Chipper was awarded the league MVP. Chipper hit his 400th HR off Marlins SP Ricky Nolasco June 5, 2008. 

The past three seasons Chipper has had an OPS higher than 1.000 and batting average higher than .320. Chipper has battled injuries throughout his career. If Chipper can stay healthy this year he is capable of hitting 20-25 HR's, 100RBI's while maintaing a .320-.330 avg. and 1.000 OPS. Chipper is key to the Brave's success this year. He is one of the few experienced veteran bats the Braves will have in their lineup and can definitely help mentor young guns like Jordan Schaffer, Yunel Escobar, Brian McCann and Casey Kotchman. A healthy Chipper Jones can be a huge asset to a our defense and offense. 

You Don't know Glavine!

300-game winner Tom Glavine is close to a one year deal with the Atlanta Braves. Glavine can earn up to $4.5 million. He is guaranteed $1 milllion, $1 million for making the Opening Day roster and two-additional bonuses would push the deal to $4.5 million. 

The lefty is coming off a horrible season. He posted a 2-4 record in 13 starts. The lack of run support from the offense may have robbed Glavine of a few win's, however his 5.54 ERA didn't help much either. Glavine was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1984 draft by the Braves AND in the 4th round of the 1984 NHL draft by the  L.A. Kings.

Glavine almost opted to play hockey but decided to play baseball because he felt that because he is a left-handed pitcher he would have a huge advantage in baseball. Glavine has won two Cy Young Awards and a World Series MVP. Glavine rejoined the Braves in 2008 after spending four seasons with the N.Y. Mets. On April 18, 2008 Glavine was placed on the DL for the first time in his 22-year career.