Any Recent Braves' Rumors?

[jwrenn]

Has anyone heard of ANYTHING that the Braves are doing to get a full team together? I don't know about the rest of you Braves fans, but I'm wondering who's gonna be at 3B and 1B and fill out the rotation and bullpen.

Any predictions on those things?

[Yellow Dog]

Its been a fairly quiet off season for the Braves. Few deals and fewer rumors. There's hasn't really been a lot to talk about this winter. Perhaps that will change between now and the opening of spring training.

I'm thinking Mark DeRosa will most likely open the season at third and Adam LaRoche at first. Who will fill out the bullpen is more uncertain. Smoltz, Wright, Gryboski and Alfonseca all seem like fairly safe bets. Perhaps the others depend which ones of a group of candidates fail to win the fifth starters job. Hodges, Bong, Pratt or Bubba Nelson? At this point, who knows?

[jwrenn]

Wow, we're going to have a YOUNG ballclub if that's the case. Derosa, Giles, Furcal, LaRoche, Estrada, Drew, A Jones, and C Jones. No one over 31 in that group. In fact on the ENTIRE roster there are only 3 players over 31! 33 for Paul Byrd, 35 for Eddie Perez, and 36 for Smoltz. WOW!

Well, we might be the Detroit Tigers with youth like that. :(

[Fragmentsofme]

I think they're finished. A friend of mine calculated the budget, and it's already $80+ million. So basically, I think this is what we're going to be working with for the year. Not a bad club, a lot of young talent, to be sure. It'll be our rotation that decides this season, IMO.

[titanbaseball04]

It'll be an interesting year.

But I've said this in years past. I believe Cox will find some way to bring the team together. He always does.

[sjnemeth3]

They won't be this fall off club that people are predicting, but I think this is Philly's year in the East. ATL will beat out the Mets though. That rotation just won't be the same. Ortiz is good, but last season was a fluke. Hampton could be an ace again next season. From there, it's all up in the air though.

[bd811]

a lot depends on Byrd IMO. If he comes back strong, then the roatation isnt that bad. Ortiz and Hampton had good years last year, and Ramirez should get better with age.

Its the bullpen I would be worried about. If Alfonseca is one of your few sure things, thats a scary thought.

I think even without Sheffield and Lopez the offense is going to be very good. Probly not the best again, but maybe near the top still.

[titanbaseball04]

In the past few years, the Braves weren't predicted to be on top of their division at the end of the season. But they always have been 1st in their division. I think your wrong nemeth.

[Rage]

The braves will once again win their Division. The Phillies continually disappoint.

[jwrenn]

I saw somewhere (TSN or ESPN) that the Phillies, with all their additions are still only average in their rotation and are not expected to win the division. Hopefully that means that the Braves will have the edge with their experienced but not ancient (see Mets) pitching staff. Obviously young pitchers with the right stuff can win it all (see Florida) so let's hope that our young batters can fill the gaps and the 4th and 5th spot in the rotation can be solidified to hold on for another division championship, and maybe even (gasp! dare I say it?) a world series.

[Sandy]

I think Thomson is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball today, and the Braves got an absolute steal in picking him up.

He managed a 1.30 WHIP with Texas, who follow the Bill Murray creed: "I don't play defense."

As noted, Horacio should be better with a year under his belt. And I'm thinking Trey will become a fixture this season as well.

While I think the Phils are a reasonable choice as favorites with the acquisitions they've made so far, I think the East will be very close this year.

Anyone else notice the little blurb in SportsWeekly about Cameron, and his impact the last two times he's changed teams? I forget the exact numbers, but it was something close to a 10 game plus for his new team and a 10 game loss for the team he left each time.

[jwrenn]

Hey Sandy-you're in my town! Sweet! I work in Raleigh...

Anyway, help me out here, Cameron who? I've been out of the loop evidently, so Mike Cameron?

[Sandy]

Originally posted by jwrenn
Hey Sandy-you're in my town! Sweet! I work in Raleigh...

Anyway, help me out here, Cameron who? I've been out of the loop evidently, so Mike Cameron?

I was refering to Mike Cameron, who the Mets picked up earlier.

IMO, the biggest problem with the Mets in recent years has been an absolutely dreadful defensive outfield. Cameron signing with the Mets fixed their single biggest flaw, and should help every pitcher on their staff.

Currently, I'm thinking Phils and Braves will battle for 1st, and the Mets will take 3rd in the East this year.

[Fragmentsofme]

Battle for half the year, the Braves pull away, the Phills slump again, and the Fish take second and the Wild Card. Oh wait...that was last year. Seriously though, I think the Braves take first and the Fish second again. IMHO

[jwrenn]

I think the Braves have got to be one of the favorites if not the favorite for the division too. We may have lost Javy, Vinny, and Gary, but Chipper, Andruw, Rafael, and Marcus are STILL there and were a big part of the offense last year. Plus in 2002 we went the whole season without much input from Javy and won the division. So we've still got a GREAT offense, and the youngsters may add production to it.


I will be VERY surprised if the Braves don't win. Heck, I'm used to it so I should be surprised. :D