Atlanta Braves

The Braves always appear to be a team that is looking for a player to close out tight games. This season they used both Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, unable to settle on which would be the best solution to their problems.

After 23 seasons as the general manager of the Richmond Braves/Gwinnett Braves, Bruce Baldwin is relinquishing his position.

“I love this organization, but I love my family more and they’re back in Richmond,” said Baldwin. “I’m thrilled I will be back with my family full time and that I can remain working with the Braves. I’m deeply grateful and appreciative of everyone in Gwinnett, especially the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the county government, and all the fans.”

If you believe Dave O'Brien, Mark Bowman, and the ever-so-unreliable Ken Rosenthal, Tim Hudson is set to sign a three-year extension with the Atlanta Braves in the neighborhood of $27 million.

I don't know about you, but that's a big relief.

Locking up an elite (provided he looks like his seven starts at the end of '09) two or three starter for under $10 million is always good.

When you add in the fact that he's locked up for under the salary of two of your potential off-season trade chips (Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez), it's even better.

Tonight, while watching two of my least-favorite teams bid for a World Series title, I realized how much I have truly hated the past four Octobers.

This year especially.

I have no rooting interest.

No care about the next pitch.

And complete apathy about who will be drinking champagne within the next week-and-a-half to two weeks.

It truly sucks. It's not like it's new for me. As I said, it's been like this for the '06, '07, '08, and now the '09 postseason.

But, this year seems a lot worse.

Any other season, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson would be the top pitching candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.

But this year, he isn't likely to win the award. Why? Because he's going up against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ, who, quite simply, isn't a rookie.

Perhaps the biggest factor impacting Hanson is that he only entered the scene for the final four months of the season. Happ pitched in 35 games. Hanson pitched in only 21.

So far, we've looked at two names that the Atlanta Braves could pursue this offseason in Prince Fielder and Juan Rivera .

We'll continue in the Juan Rivera-Esq direction (as in realistic options) with this piece.

Now, I know that I made a small case against him in the Juan Rivera article, but today we are going to talk about Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz.

If you have read any of my columns over the summer, you know I am a die-hard, tried-and-true rabid Atlanta Braves fan. I usually watch around 120 games a year on TV, about three in person, and another 10 or so I catch on radio based on time constraints and such.

At the end of a season, it's easy to point fingers. Win or lose, there are always multiple factors that go into a team's success or failure. But some factors weigh more than others, and in 2009, Chipper Jones' dismal performance was the heaviest factor in Atlanta's failure to make the playoffs.

It's hard to blame Chipper Jones, of course. He's been the face of the Braves organization for years. But in 2009, Chipper had the worst season of his career. He batted .264, a full .100 points lower than in 2008. It was the worst batting average in his entire career.

This article is the last in a six part series discussing the players on the Atlanta Braves' 25-man roster that will be free agents this offseason.

This article is the fifth in a six part series discussing the players on the Atlanta Braves' 25-man roster that will be free agents this offseason.