Rambling, dumb predictions
You’re supposed to make predictions, I guess. I really have no idea what’s going to happen, and neither does anyone else.
Read the rest of this entry »You’re supposed to make predictions, I guess. I really have no idea what’s going to happen, and neither does anyone else.
Read the rest of this entry »This is always a tough bit, and I’m sure I’ll miss somebody. Anyway, the best-known reliever I haven’t covered yet is certainly Scott Proctor, who had two good years of bullpen workhorse work with the Yankees and Dodgers (traded for Wilson Betemit!) after two years Jeff Dedmon wouldn’t sign for, and who went down with an arm injury and missed most of 2008 and all of 2009. He had Tommy John surgery in May, and I wouldn’t expect him to be ready to start the season, though the Braves are optimistic. I also am a bit dubious that he’s a good fit for the type of bullpen Bobby is running, which is based upon short outings. He’s not a shutdown guy, he’s a former starter who is useful for a couple of innings to keep a game under control.
Read the rest of this entry »I’ve gone through the bullpen mainstays, and I’m really not up to tackling Manny Acosta right now. So let’s talk bullpen management. Last year (this stat is from the Bill James Handbook) Bobby was the manager most likely to use a pitcher on consecutive days. I think we all knew that, instinctively, but it’s been confirmed.
Read the rest of this entry »Wow, what a long winter it has been. But that doesn’t really matter anymore, because spring training is here and it starts today at 1:10 PM EST against the Mets. Coverage will by on SNY, as well as MLB.tv. That is, as long as the weather holds up.
Read the rest of this entry »I am going to be allegorical here, because it’s basically the only way I know how to put this.
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What a reunion for the Braves and Tommy Glavine! After the way Tommy spoke out against his former team last season about the way he was released I wasn't sure this would ever happen, but it has.
Captain Caveman may still end up wearing a Braves jersey after all. Apparently things are starting to heat up again with the Braves and Johnny Damon. The Braves have offered a 1 year deal (with deferd money) and have also asked Chipper Jones to reach out and contact Damon to give him his best sales pitch about why he should come to Atlanta. Hopefully Chipper can get through to Mr Damon and let him know that he is needed. Maybe Chip will invite Johnny out to his ranch for a some fishin'.Two other outfielders are on the 40-man, these being Gregor Blanco and Jordan Schafer, both of whom had 2009 seasons they would rather forget. Blanco, who spent all of 2008 with the Braves, wound up spending most of 2009 in the suburbs, and did not hit either there or in his major league action. You’re all familiar with Blanco, a player who has identifiable strengths, mostly his walk rate and ability to work pitchers, plus some speed, but whose complete lack of power and high strikeout rates keep him from being a really valuable player.
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Ran across this interview with former Braves great Javy Lopez. He talks about a lot of topics ranging from catching, and not catching Greg Maddux, winning the 95 World Series, the next Braves manager, and of course steroids. The steroids part is very confusing to me. He never comes out and says that he took them, but to me he is acting as if he is giving the interview from the point of view of someone that did. What do you think?
