Braves & Chipper Jones Agree to Terms on Contract Extension | braves.com: Official Info

Braves trade CF Anderson to Tigers | ajc.com

Normally, I do (in addition to the player analyses) “other possibilities” posts summarizing, well, other players who might make the team. I didn’t do that this year, for reasons both personal and not. At any event, the only position spot that has been open is the starting centerfield job, as even the bench jobs have been secured (barring injury or trade) basically from the get-go.

It looks like he’s made the team, and he has been pitching well this spring. Boyer has essentially been rehabbing for three years. He went down late in 2005 — ultimately leading to the Joey Devine Experience in postseason — and has been trying to work his way back ever since. At times last year, especially early in the season, he was effective, but Bobby just kept throwing him out there, pitching him on little rest even at times when he wasn’t effective. In July, he had fifteen appearances despite a 7.82 ERA. In August, it was fourteen and 7.94. I know that the bullpen was thin, but there really is no justification for using any pitcher like that, and certainly not a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery.

Five Questions: Mac Thomason on the 2009 Atlanta Braves - Chop-n-Change

Given the Braves depth with their pitching staff, they are very confident that they’ll be able to get through the season, even if they sustain key injuries.  Frank Wren did a good job of putting together an array of options the team can choose from to fill their needs.  Because of this, we were in a great position going into Spring Training.  However, since everyone has preformed so well this spring, especially in the pitching department, the Braves have an excess of talent.  As rival clubs begin to fill out their rosters, they’re turning to Wren in an attempt to fill needs of their respective clubs.  An outfielder (Gregor Blanco, Josh Anderson, or Brandon Jones) could be traded and contribute to a big league club this season.  Wren has also received inquiries about various pitchers in camp that the Braves may not necessarily have a place for this season but could contribute to a big league club (Jo-Jo Reyes, Charlie Morton, James Parr, Jorge Campillo, Buddy Carlyle, Manny Acosta,  and Jeff Bennett).  Martin Prado could also be moved and serve as an every-day infielder.  None of these moves would so significantly affect our depth that it’d hurt our chances in 2009.

I read this on Rob Neyer’s blog today, one of the best things I’ve read all day:

Another player from whom I don’t know what to expect, though for different reasons than some. There aren’t many pitchers like him — submariners/sidearmers who throw really hard — and he’d already had arm trouble. So I have no way of knowing how he’ll come back from Tommy John surgery, though it’s surprising that the Braves seem to think he’ll be ready to start the season.

It’s my birthday, again. I can neither confirm or deny that when I blew out the candles on the pie (yes, pie, banana cream) my wish was, “Trade Francoeur”.

I haven’t been able to devote enough attention to the Atlanta Braves as I usually do over the past few days due to travel and spotty internet connections.  However, we’re up and running and here’s everything you need to get your Braves fix.

Boxscore: Atlanta vs. Florida - March 13, 2009 | MLB.com: News

In a recent interview with Esquire Magazine, Jonathan Papelbon took one of the many steps towards replacing Manny Ramirez as the Boston Red Sox’ number 1 clubhouse asshole.  In the interview, Papelbon called Manny Ramirez a “cancer”, specifically saying: “That’s what he was. Cancer. He had to go.”

Boxscore: Washington vs. Atlanta - March 12, 2009 | MLB.com: News

I don’t know what to expect, and I don’t think anyone else does, either. Diaz, after two outstanding years of half-time play, was completely useless — worse than Francoeur — in 2008 before tearing up his knee on a fielding play. He made a couple of efforts to come back, but couldn’t.

John Smoltz plays for the Boston Red Sox.  That statement, in itself, is one of the most controversial statements ever uttered in the history of the Atlanta Braves.  How on earth did that happen?  The answer isn’t simple.  Nor is it easy, fair, or ideal, but it comes down to the business of baseball, calculated risk-reward situations, money, and a complete removal from emotionalism and nostalgia in favor of certainty and production.

Boxscore: Atlanta vs. Houston - March 10, 2009 | MLB.com: News

Imagine this.  Frank Wren wakes up on July 9th and sees that the Braves just swept a series at Wrigley Field and are now a half game up on the Mets and Phillies, who are tied for 2nd in the division.  There haven’t been any devastating injuries and everything has played out exactly like we all thought it would.  With 2 and a half months left in the season, the Mets and Phillies are pushing hard to add another starting pitcher and it looks like both Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay will end up finishing the season in the NL East.  Clearly, if the Mets and Phillies are going to make major moves, the Braves would need to follow suit if they plan to contend for a playoff spot.  With two and a half months left in the season, Wren would need to ask himself who would be a fit for the club to help them make a playoff push.  Well, let’s take a look at some of the options.

Josh Anderson Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

Well, I’m back in Atlanta.  After putting close to 1,200 miles on my car in 3 days it is nice to finally be back home.  Ok, I’m lying, if I had the opportunity I’d be headed back to Kissimmee tomorrow.  It was one heck of a weekend.  Anyway, I got a very unpleasant surprise when I turned on the World Baseball Classic as soon as I arrived.  I learned that Chipper Jones was removed from the game with some sort of pulled muscle/injury.  Have I ever mentioned I hate the World Baseball Classic?  I did just watch Gregor Blanco rip a triple though, which is good.

Irrelevant games continued, but I wasn’t really paying attention. Watched some of the WBC, and I guess Canadians are into it. Good for them.

It’s awesome to beat the Yankees, especially in a close game at their stadium.  Especially Especially when they’ve got one of your former players batting 3rd in the line-up because they paid him more money than the Braves’ entire payroll this year.  Anyway, we won 3-1.  No sense in recapping, but here’s some things I noticed:

If you are ever given the chance to attend a spring training game at Champion’s Stadium, I highly recommend you do so.  I greatly enjoyed the opportunity this evening.  The Braves rewarded me for my troubles getting down here by putting on a baseball clinic at the expense of the Astros.  I’ll recap.
Josh Anderson - CF
Kelly Johnson – 2B
Matt Diaz – LF
Casey Kotchman – 1B
Yunel Escobar – SS
Jeff Francoeur – RF
Martin Prado – 3B
Clint Sammons – C
Jo-Jo Reyes – P

Stocks Up:

Chipper Jones- 1/4 with a 3-run shot and a walk playing for team USA against the Phillies.

Boxscore: Venezuela vs. Atlanta - March 5, 2009 | MLB.com: News

It’s roster prediction time!  Well, I don’t know if there is a set time to predict the team’s roster, so I’ll do it now.  We’re looking at a 25 man roster out of camp.  12 man pitching staff, 8 regulars, and 5 bench players.  This roster won’t matter much because the team will make a ton of roster moves throughout the season, but here’s what I think it will look like:

Stocks Up:

Josh Anderson- 1/2 with a double.  Anderson is batting .417 with a .750 slugging percentage this spring, though he’s yet to draw a walk.

Boxscore: NY Yankees vs. Atlanta - March 4, 2009 | MLB.com: News

Stocks Up:

Javier Vazquez- Pitched 3 scoreless innings before leaving for the WBC

Boxscore: Panama vs. Atlanta - March 3, 2009 | MLB.com: News

Someone posted a link to this article which is entitled “Chipper Jones: The Most Overrated Player in Baseball” on David O’Brien’s blog late last night and I opened it up and read it this morning.  Here’s some excerpts with commentary from yours truly: