Braves Are Coming Home

The Atlanta Braves are heading back home for their last two games of the spring season. The Braves play tonight at 7:10 and tomorrow at 1:10.

This would be a great chance to see the Braves before they make their final roster moves. Who will start in centerfield? Remains the largest question left for the spring season. A report from TalkingChop.com says Atlanta almost acquired Jason Repko from the Dodgers to platoon in center. Atlanta needs to stick with the two guys they could possibly have in center, however they both hit left-handed. I can see the Braves concern with all the possible lefties in the lineup. Atlanta already has one outfield platooned position-and I'm not going to pay my money to see Jason Repko (a Kotsay type of player) patrol centerfield.

The Braves will send Javier Vazquez to the mound tonight. Tomorrow will dawn the likes of Kenshin Kawakami for the first 4 or 5 innings followed by top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson for the remainder of the game.

Injuries A Key Concern?

This time last year the Braves had the same promises of a great season. Those promises were let down after an injury plague struck the entire pitching staff. Smoltz, Glavine, Hampton, and Hudson (who won't return until August of this season) were all hit. The bullpen saw the likes of Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano bite the dust early in the season. Closer Mike Gonzalez didn't return until June from Tommy John surgery from the previous 2007 season. Chipper didn't quite make 130 games and Yunel Escobar barely did. Can the Braves stay healthy this season? The Braves have more pitching depth and a completely revamped rotation. The difference? Well besides the names there isn't much of one. Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez are both in their 30's. Glavine is a year older. Tim Hudson won't return from Tommy John until August. Kenshin Kawakami, well he might, Japanese pitchers always seem to hold up (speculation of course).
The Braves dawned 11 different starters last season. Jorge Campillo, James Parr, Jo-Jo Reyes, Charlie Morton, and Jeff Bennett all got their chances. Campillo, Parr, Reyes, and Morton should all start this season in AAA and Bennett has a decent shot to come out of the bullpen in Atlanta. The Braves essentially had a stellar rotation last season, for AAA Gwinnett.
The position players, even though they had the usual nagging injuries, were all filled in for nicely. Martin Prado and Omar Infante, I think, were the MVP's of the team. Yes, I know Chipper hit .364 in 128 games. Prado and Infante played position after position. Infante hit .293 and Prado hit .320 in 96 and 78 games respectively. They both played in the outfield, 3rd, 2nd, shortstop, and Prado even played 1st base.

Injuries are always a factor in every season. IF the Braves can stay healthy this year and with the reserves lined up in AAA just in case, Atlanta has all the right tools this year to compete for a National Championship.

Odds and Ends

Kenshin Kawakami allowed 2 runs in 6 innings on Monday, March 30th. If he pitches that well consistently he will win atleast 15 games for Atlanta. He also faced his fellow Japanese country-men Dice-K. Bobby Cox was quoted, "He can rise to the occasion, you can just see it in him." (Nice choice of words Bobby). In reality Bobby Cox was talking about all the Japanese media that were there covering the exhibition game.

The Braves won Monday's game against the Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings.

The Braves are apparently working on a 3 year contract extension with Chipper Jones. I wonder if John Smoltz has seen that news story yet? Where was Smoltzy's contract extension? Or better yet, how about Atlanta works out an extension for Chipper when his contract has expired. In the mean time use some of that money to sign Wil Ohman or another veteran lefty reliever presence. I'm not picky, just someone who can get 1 out a game. Look for an official announcement as early as today.

Garrett Anderson will start in left field today. I hope he takes his ginseng before each game or eats a banana. The Braves do not need another injury.

My centerfielder is Jordan Schafer. What do the Braves have to lose? Give the kid a chance, if he stinks it up in the first month there is Gregor Blanco waiting in the wings. Gregor Blanco is good for a .250 average and 3 bunts a game.

Hanson Set For Return To Atlanta

Tommy Hanson will be back in Atlanta to pitch the last 4 innings on Saturday, April 5th. The last exhibition game of the season will be played at Turner Field. The Braves open the season the next night in Philly. Bobby Cox does not want to use any of his relievers Saturday night, who knows who he'll need to throw on Sunday. I have complete faith in Sunday's opening night starter, Derek Lowe, however once the bullpen enters the game, it could be a round robin to get through the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.

Tommy Hanson will begin the season at triple-A Gwinnett. Hanson's first scheduled start at home for Gwinnett would be April 20th.

Kenshin Kawakami is scheduled to start the exhibition game on Saturday. Kawakami's first regular season appearance, based on speculation, would be Saturday, April 11th.

Hopefully the weather cooperates for the exhibition game on Saturday night.

McCann Injured

According to AtlantaBraves.com Brian McCann left Saturday's game with a cut on his right ring finger. The unfortunate accident occurred when Mark Teixeira fouled a ball that was tipped into McCann's finger. Brian McCann had a scheduled day off tomorrow and is listed as day-to-day.

Brian McCann has probably had the most difficult spring of any of the Braves. The only thing it seems McCann doesn't have on his mind is whether he's the starting catcher. The spring began for McCann starting for team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He had to familiarize himself with the likes of Jake Peavy and Roy Oswalt before the tournament even started.
Once Team USA was bounced from The WBC McCann had to then familiarize himself with the Braves brand new starting rotation. The Braves added new starters Kenshin Kawakami, Derek Lowe, and Javier Vazquez.