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.
Billy Wagner is one of the most dominant closers of this generation but he is an aging veteran coming off a major surgery and it is yet to be seen how he will hold up over a 162 game season. This is the same guy who was strongly considered retirement after his 2008 season ended with an injury. With that said, he is a guy who could very well return to form and once again be the dominant closer we all know.
Troy Glaus is also another free agent signee that I'm a bit concerned with health-wise. He is coming off of a season in which he played only 14 games, which were quite unproductive. He could prove to be the big right handed power bat the braves lacked in '09 but there is no guarantee on his production, health, or defensive capability at first base, where he has little experience.
I'm not trying to be completely negative but it just seems to me that Frank Wren is relying to much on these "stop gaps" for super prospects Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman. I've never been a big fan of counting on "prospects" who are not proven major league players like Adam Laroche, for example, is. I'm not saying these two prospects won't prove to be solid players at the next level but there is no guarantee like there would have been with Laroche.
In my opinion, the strongest parts of the team will be up the middle of the diamond and the entire pitching staff. Brian McCann is going to be himself, or maybe better since his vision should no longer be a problem. Yunel Escobar should continue to improve on and off of the field. I haven't heard but hopefully he worked on his English in the offseason so he can be a better teammate and interact with the media. A healthy Nate McLouth will play a stellar center field, leadoff, and hit 20-25 homers while leading the team in stolen bases.
With Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito anchoring our revamped bullpen, the braves should once again have no problem finishing ball games. Peter Moylan, Eric O'Flaherty, and Kris Medlen will also be back in our strong bullpen with Mike Dunn, Jesse Chavez, Luis Valdez, Scott Proctor, Juan Abreu, and Lee Hyde battling it out for the final two spots in the pen. In my opinion, Bobby will break camp with these 12 pitchers and this line-up.
- Tim Hudson
- Jair Jurrjens
- Derek Lowe
- Tommy Hanson
- Kenshin Kawakami
- LR- Kris Medlen
- MR- Jesse Chavez
- MR- Mike Dunn
- MR- Eric O'Flaherty
- SU- Peter Moylan
- SU- Takashi Saito
- CL- Billy Wagner
Starting Lineup
- Nate Mclouth- CF
- Martin Prado- 2B
- Chipper Jones- 3B
- Troy Glaus- 1B
- Brian McCann- C
- Yunel Escobar- SS
- Jason Heyward- RF
- Matt Diaz- LF
Bench
David Ross- C
Omar Infante- IF
Brooks Conrad- IF
Melky Cabrera- OF
Eric Hinske- 3B/1B/LF/RF
The braves, barring injury, seem to be well-set to make a playoff run in 2010. The Phillies have a very powerful lineup and a true ace but they do have questions at the back end of their rotation and in the bullpen. We haven't exactly taken back over the N.L east but i do believe the braves could make a strong run in the wildcard, if nothing else
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