Atlanta Braves

I would like to begin this article by saying that I've recently joined "BleacherReport" and I will continuously be writing and commenting on the Atlanta Braves. I would sum up the braves off season as high-risk high-reward.

Let me preface this by saying that I have seen no linkage of any kind between the Atlanta Braves and Felipe Lopez.

There were 60 starting pitchers from the 1950s who pitched in at least 200 games.

If a player does not appear on the list of the 60 eligible players list, then they either didn’t reach 200 games or I consider them a pitcher from the 1940s or the 1960s.

In 2009 the Atlanta Braves were somewhat of an enigma. They went from an offseason of misses, to a season of offensive frustration, pitching brilliance, offensive brilliance, a late season run, to losing it's last six.

So as we are just weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting, I have been contemplating a few moves the Braves should look at making (or preparing to make) to having a very formidable chance at unseating the Phillies as the National League East champions and beyond.

So it seems that the Braves are probably done for the offseason with the Hinske and Glaus signings.

Time for Frank Wren's off-season grades.

Starting Pitcher :

The offseason started out with signing Hudson to a three-year, $28 million extension. Below market value for Hudson, a great leader in the clubhouse and community. The type of player the Braves want to build around.

Unfortunately, once the Braves signed Hudson to an extension, they were put into a position where they needed to trade Lowe or Vazquez.

I think we can go ahead and throw out the sexy trade rumors that we've all heard (and which I promoted here and here ) since the Vazquez trade.

Here we sit in the first week of 2010, and the Atlanta Braves still, seemingly, have a hole to fill in the outfield.

With a starting group currently composed of Cabrera-McLouth-Diaz (the Braves will probably end up taking the Hanson route with Heyward), you can kind of see why.

With that in mind, though, you have to think that the Braves aren't going to be looking to break the bank (sorry, no Matt Holliday ) since they could go to war with that group and be okay.

Joseph Abstein was a Boston fan until his team moved to Milwaukee in 1953.

Joe still roots for the Braves, but he has a perspective on championships that most modern fans may never understand.

Lew Burdette Beat the Yankees

After the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953, I lost a little interest in the team, but only because it was so difficult to follow their daily fortunes.

The 2000s, at least first half of them, were a good decade for the Atlanta Braves.

With superstars plentiful throughout, making this list was difficult.

But, I was finally able to assemble a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, short stop, third baseman, three outfielders, five starters, a reliever, and a closer (with the year that each had their immaculate performance).

With eight players coming from just two seasons, it may look like I became lazy while making this.

But, I assure you, this article took a lot of time and I feel that these fifteen players had the best indiviual seasons

It hasn't been a great off-season for Atlanta. Simple as that.

The divisional opponents have gotten stronger. Atlanta has gotten weaker. Sure, we can debate whether Atlanta has made the right moves, but none of it adds up to a stronger team.

Next year, there will be no Vazquez, LaRoche, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano or Kelly Johnson. There will be Melky Cabrera, Troy Glaus and Billy Wagner. Add all that up and I'd prefer to have those former players, not the latter group.