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.

Jo-Jo Reyes Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Manny Acosta Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

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.

Eric O’Flaherty Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

I am going to be allegorical here, because it’s basically the only way I know how to put this.

Peter Moylan Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Takashi Saito Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Billy Wagner Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Kris Medlen Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Kenshin Kawakami Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Derek Lowe Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Tommy Hanson Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Tim Hudson Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Jair Jurrjens Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

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.

Jason Heyward Minor League Statistics & History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Melky Cabrera Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Nate McLouth Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Matt Diaz Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

The Braves can’t really afford for Infante to go down again, because the second utility infielder position does not look like a strong point. Brooks Conrad and Diory Hernandez return from last year’s team. Conrad showed the same problems that have kept him in the minors for so long, an inability to make regular contact and defensive movement resembling Keith Lockhart riding on a Galapagos tortoise. Conrad’s defensive statistics were not actually too bad, and in 58 plate appearances he had two homers, two triples, and a double. Unfortunately, he had only six singles, and he can’t survive hitting .204. Hernandez, meanwhile, hit very well in AAA but upon promotion in no way resembled a major league ballplayer, hitting .141/.198/.212 and looking awkward defensively, though again his defensive stats are pretty good.

Omar Infante Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

One of the most underrated players in baseball. Even his own team doesn’t seem to hold him in that high regard, though that appears to be because he’s a bit of a punk. But what we have here is a gold glove-level shortstop who hit .300 (okay, .299) with medium-range walks (.377 OBP) and power (.436 SLG). He’s entering his prime, assuming his age (27 in 2010) is correct. If he could get through the season without an injury, we’d really be talking.

Chipper Jones Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com.

Martin Prado Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com

Eric Hinske Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com

Troy Glaus Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com

Dave Ross Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com

Braves add Hinske  | ajc.com

Brian McCann Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com