Braves Preview

by user Timothy Moreland

What happened to the Braves rotations of the 90's. John Smoltz is still around but he is no longer #3; he is the ace. A lot of people expected Smoltz to breakdown last year after converting from closer to starter again, but he showed he can make it the whole year. I would expect a small jump in ERA but nothing major. Hudson is a solid #2 but he is not nearly the pitcher he used to be. His K's are falling, he is letting up more homeruns, his walk rate is rising, and he is letting up more hits. That is not a formula for success. I don't think he will collapse but I would brace yourself for a drop. I actually like Thomson's chances of pitching like a #2 better than Hudson's. How did Horacio Ramirez ever manage to end up with a 2.39 ERA in 2004. I know it was only 60 innings but still. He had only 4.7 K/9 and a high walk rate of 4.5 BB/9. This is probably why his ERA jumped back up to 4.63 last year and I see it getting worse. Jorge Sosa was the 2004 version of Ramirez last year and I am seeing him being more like the 2005 version of him this year. The Braves are going to need the top 3 starter to carry them because the bottom two are far from solid and their bullpen, even their closer, contains no one I would be too scared to face. For the first time in a long time, the Braves weakness is in their pitching staff; the whole thing.

Projected Rotation

SP John Smoltz

<stats> Player=John Smoltz Type=Pitching Years=2004,2005 </stats>

SP Tim Hudson

<stats> Player=Tim Hudson Type=Pitching Years=2004,2005 </stats>

SP John Thomson

<stats> Player=John Thomson Type=Pitching Years=2004,2005 </stats>

SP Horacio Ramirez

<stats> Player=Horacio Ramirez Type=Pitching Years=2004,2005 </stats>

SP Jorge Sosa

<stats> Player=Jorge Sosa Type=Pitching Years=2004,2005 </stats>

I actually think the Braves offense is just as good as the Philadelphia Phillies and better than the New York Mets. Marcus Giles is the best leadoff hitter in the game. I like a man with a .365 OBP/.461 SLG as his lowest line in the last three years batting leadoff. Plus, he has 20 SB potential. Edgar Renteria is nothing special with the bat but it is out of a weak hitting position. For some reason, Renteria's defense has gone down the tubes, fast; he committed thirty errors last year with bad range. Wilson Betemit, a slightly better hitter and terrible fielder as well, will take some at bats from Renteria and could increase if Betemit gets hot/Renteria gets cold. Speaking of terrible fielders, Chipper Jones is still the best hitter on this team, but I don't see him playing the whole season. His games have decreased from 153 to 137 to 109 over the last three years. Andruw Jones is a solid cleanup man who will slug over .500 again this year and for many years to come. After this front four, there is a dropoff to #5. Adam LaRoche has a low OBP and little power for a 1B, not to mention he is another below average fielder. The lineup bounces back for the final spots. Jeff Franceour's OBP percentage is only decent looking because of his high average. Although, he has some major power potential. He will get to 30 HRs this year and has a possibility of getting to 40 some day. Kelly Johnson will take quite a few at bats away from Ryan Langerhans. Overall, Kelly Johnson is a better player because of his superior defense, but Langerhans is a slightly better hitter. I chose Brian McCann as the starting catcher for my NL Team of the Future so you know how I feel about him. This is a very young lineup with an average age of 27 .

Projected Batting Order

2B Marcus Giles

<stats> Player=Marcus Giles Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

SS Edgar Renteria

<stats> Player=Edgar Renteria Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

3B Chipper Jones

<stats> Player=Chipper Jones Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

CF Andruw Jones

<stats> Player=Andruw Jones Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

1B Adam LaRoche

<stats> Player=Adam LaRoche Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

RF Jeffrey Francoeur

<stats> Player=Jeff Francoeur Type=Batting </stats>

LF Ryan Langerhans

<stats> Player=Ryan Langerhans Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

C Brian McCann

<stats> Player=Brian McCann Type=Batting Years=2004,2005 </stats>

Projection: 87-75 2nd in the NL East...I think the race will be tight between the Phillies, Braves, and Mets; however, the Mets have the best pitching, mainly from their bullpen, so I have to give them the nod. The Braves find a way to win it every year so nothing would surprise me.

Date

Fri 03/10/06, 9:35 am EST <pageTools></pageTools>

Awrigh01All-Star

1359 days ago

Score 2

I love these previews.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1359 days ago

Score 0

I wasn't signed in when I posted that so thank you again

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Awrigh01All-Star

1359 days ago

Score 1

I think the Braves are better than expected. The big question is how the pitching will do without Leo Mazzone

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Patrickburke1980All-American

1359 days ago

Score 0

i will always pick the braves to win the NL east until they finally don't.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1359 days ago

Score 0

They are my favorite team along with the Pirates so I will definitely be rooting for them. I tried to stay objective though. I think I will do a Mets and Phillies preview next.

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Patrickburke1980All-American

1359 days ago

Score 0

Braves offense is better than the Mets? Marcus Giles is the best leadoff hitter in the game?

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Awrigh01All-Star

1359 days ago

Score 1

I love their stategy, develop young talent and be very selective about Free Agent signings (like Hudson, Sheffield, and Renteria). They understand that there is a marginal difference between AAA players and major league players and take advantage of that. They would rather bring up one of their farm-hands than over-pay for some Joe McEwing like bench player. I think this is great for two reasons: (1) their minor leaguer have an additional incentive to work hard, because they know they will make it to the majors; (2) its cheaper.

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Awrigh01All-Star

1359 days ago

Score 1

I think the Braves offense is not better than the Mets, even though Jones is a monster, Jeff F. has a lot of talent. Chipper Jones is overrated and Giles needs to stay healthy for a full season. 152 games was better than 2004, but not great.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1359 days ago

Score 0

The only player I see as a better hitter out of the leadoff spot is Grady Sizemore and maybe his former teammate Furcal. Although, I think Giles will have a better OBP than any other leadoff hitter and he can add 15-20 HRs with 15-20 SBs. I don't like the final three hitters in the Mets lineup (Nady, LoDuca, Matsui). Nady has never become more than a replaceable bat. LoDuca has zero power. Matsui had an OBP of .300. On the Braves side, they finish with three promising young guys who have all produced better at the majors than the Mets' counterparts.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1359 days ago

Score 0

I don't think Chipper is overrated. He had an OBP of .412 and slugged .556. This was in only 432 PA though. That is where the problem with Chipper is; he hasn't been able to stay healthy for the last two years.

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PeanMajor Leaguer

1359 days ago

Score 0

hey BBall3345...if you put in your user page, it will automatically put a list of your articles in the category "Opinions by User Bball3345".

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Awrigh01All-Star

1359 days ago

Score 1

That's a big problem with Chipper. He's not getting younger any time soon. He's only getting older. I don't think you give Nady/Diaz enough credit. Both have the potential to hit 25HRs and knock in their share of RBIs. Matsui still has the talent and it is his walk year. If not, Hernandex and/or Keppinger will probably take over the helm and will put up better numbers than Kaz did last year.

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Bball3345Draft Pick

1359 days ago

Score 0

Thanks Pean...Awrigh01- I agree that is a problem but if he can put up 500 Plate Appearances of how he hit last year combined with Betemit's decent production that would be fine. I also agree Diaz has some serious potential but I no longer have much faith in Nady and Nady will probably get the majority of at bats. Matsui has done nothing in the majors. Last year was his chance to prove he could play but played terribly and got hurt. He is 30 and I don't see him improving. Keppinger was not impressive in his first big league action in 2004; although, he would be a huge improvement over Matsui. I am not so optimistic about Hernandez.

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Ben agm

1357 days ago

Score 0

I don't like the Mets rotation at all. Pedro's going to be good no doubt, but glavine's another year older and the rest of the bunch is sketchy at best. Their bullpen is better, just don't count on Jorge Julio for much (Trust me, I'm an O's fan). The Braves bullpen is their question mark, but I like their rotation a lot more than the Mets. I think the Braves are vulnerable, but I like this team better than the Mets.

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