Atlanta Braves Preview
Win Total (5dimes)
Over 86 +110
Under 86 -130
The Atlanta Braves won 86 games last year and are expected to win about that many again this year. As I look at these guys I want to say they are ready for a down year, but the more I look, the more I like.
Whats to Like: Lets get Jason Heyward out of the way from the start.. He is the talk of camp in Atlanta and everyone is hoping he starts the year in right field. Some say he is the next Dave Parker.(Not the fat slow one on the A's, the younger 5-tool one from the Pirates) N.McLouth, Melky cabrera, M.Diaz and E. Hinske are solid major leaguers but I think there is room for an up and coming Star this year.
They still have 3B Chipper Jones and Catcher Brian McCann to lead the offense. These 2 will hit .300 year in and year out, proven hitters that rarely go into slumps.
OF Matt Diaz, along with double play combo SS Y.Escobar and 2B M.Prado all have career averages over .300. Thats 5 guys that have a shot to hit over .300 in this Braves Lineup. Very Impressive...
Power Hitting veteran Troy Glaus was brought in to play first base. He had right shoulder surgery last year but says he is back in good shape and if healthy should easily match what he did with the Cardinals in '08 (.270, 27 HR's)
Their rotation looks VERY good on paper to start 2010. Ace Jair Jurrjens threw 215 innings last year and had a .260 ERA. This guy just gets the job done and somehow kinda stays under the radar. Tommy Hanson had everyone watching last year and still showed he's the Real Deal. One of the best young pitchers in baseball, (11-4 2.89 ERA last year) another repeat performance and we'll have to drop the "young" from that title. Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe are getting older, but these 2 can still get outs with their sinkers and are very solid third and fourth options for a rotation.
Kenshin Kawakami will be the fifth starter and although he went 7-12 last year with 156 innings pitched, his ERA was a respectable 3.86 so Im thinking that record is not a good indicator of what this guy can do. This is a very good Rotation.
Billy Wagner has been brought in to close, this cant hurt a very average bullpen.
Whats Not To Like: Lets face it, if these guys go all year without some major injuries I will be very suprised. Hudson, Lowe, Glaus, and Chipper are all very injury prone and these guys are expected to be big factors this year for the Braves. This is never a good thing when trying to predict how many wins a team will have when its all said and done.
Even with Heyward in the picture I think this is a very average Outfield. Diaz can hit .300 but thats about it..McLouth has power and some speed but something about this guy I just dont like. Melky Cabrera is over rated thanks to being surrounded by so many great players in New York. He really doesn't do anything special.
I don't like fact that Brian MaCann has never scored or drove in over 100 runs... I understand he's a catcher but this still was shocking when I realized it.
Recap: Betting on the Braves win total is out of the question.. These guys could all get hurt and they could be like last years Mets, Or they could stay Healthy and challenge the Phillies for the division. If I had to guess I'd say they struggle with injuries this year and miss the playoffs winning about 84 games. This will be the year Heyward makes a name for himself and Chipper finds out the hard way you cant play forever.
Win Total (5dimes)
Over 86 +110
Under 86 -130
The Atlanta Braves won 86 games last year and are expected to win about that many again this year. As I look at these guys I want to say they are ready for a down year, but the more I look, the more I like.
Whats to Like: Lets get Jason Heyward out of the way from the start.. He is the talk of camp in Atlanta and everyone is hoping he starts the year in right field. Some say he is the next Dave Parker.(Not the fat slow one on the A's, the younger 5-tool one from the Pirates) N.McLouth, Melky cabrera, M.Diaz and E. Hinske are solid major leaguers but I think there is room for an up and coming Star this year.
They still have 3B Chipper Jones and Catcher Brian McCann to lead the offense. These 2 will hit .300 year in and year out, proven hitters that rarely go into slumps.
OF Matt Diaz, along with double play combo SS Y.Escobar and 2B M.Prado all have career averages over .300. Thats 5 guys that have a shot to hit over .300 in this Braves Lineup. Very Impressive...
Power Hitting veteran Troy Glaus was brought in to play first base. He had right shoulder surgery last year but says he is back in good shape and if healthy should easily match what he did with the Cardinals in '08 (.270, 27 HR's)
Their rotation looks VERY good on paper to start 2010. Ace Jair Jurrjens threw 215 innings last year and had a .260 ERA. This guy just gets the job done and somehow kinda stays under the radar. Tommy Hanson had everyone watching last year and still showed he's the Real Deal. One of the best young pitchers in baseball, (11-4 2.89 ERA last year) another repeat performance and we'll have to drop the "young" from that title. Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe are getting older, but these 2 can still get outs with their sinkers and are very solid third and fourth options for a rotation.
Kenshin Kawakami will be the fifth starter and although he went 7-12 last year with 156 innings pitched, his ERA was a respectable 3.86 so Im thinking that record is not a good indicator of what this guy can do. This is a very good Rotation.
Billy Wagner has been brought in to close, this cant hurt a very average bullpen.
Whats Not To Like: Lets face it, if these guys go all year without some major injuries I will be very suprised. Hudson, Lowe, Glaus, and Chipper are all very injury prone and these guys are expected to be big factors this year for the Braves. This is never a good thing when trying to predict how many wins a team will have when its all said and done.
Even with Heyward in the picture I think this is a very average Outfield. Diaz can hit .300 but thats about it..McLouth has power and some speed but something about this guy I just dont like. Melky Cabrera is over rated thanks to being surrounded by so many great players in New York. He really doesn't do anything special.
I don't like fact that Brian MaCann has never scored or drove in over 100 runs... I understand he's a catcher but this still was shocking when I realized it.
Recap: Betting on the Braves win total is out of the question.. These guys could all get hurt and they could be like last years Mets, Or they could stay Healthy and challenge the Phillies for the division. If I had to guess I'd say they struggle with injuries this year and miss the playoffs winning about 84 games. This will be the year Heyward makes a name for himself and Chipper finds out the hard way you cant play forever.