AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February
February 2006
Something’s gotta give
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ladies and gents, your opening day starter: Tim Hudson.
Bobby Cox acknowledged that’s the plan when I asked him this morning, though he hasn’t made an official announcement. It didn’t take much genius on my part to figure it out: Just count forward every fifth day from the first spring starts for each guy, which Cox had announced on Sunday.
When I did that, I got Hudson landing on opening day April 3 against Los Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, and Smoltz going in game 2. Smoltz and Hudson haven’t been told officially, but neither seemed surprised at all, and Smoltz said he agreed completely with the decision and that Hudson is The Man now, the guy to carry the most weight in the rotation.
Anyway, my question today to you folks: How does this rotation — Hudson, Smoltz and in some order Thomson, Sosa and Ramirez — potentially compare with Braves rotations in recent years, and with the great ones of the 1990s?
I’d offer that, while it could be one of the best two or three rotations in the NL this season if folks stay healthy, it’s still not even in the same ballpark as the great Braves rotations of the 1990s. Not even close.
But with the reduced payroll, Braves aren’t going to be able to keep together three veteran horses at the peak of their careers, like they did back then.
The other question: If the Braves were to trade one of those three guys at back end of rotation (Smoltz and Hudson aren’t going to be traded, obviously) then who would you trade? Horacio, Thomson or Sosa? And why?
Finally, which guy would you replace him with, Chuck James or Kyle Davies?
My own opinion — I’d trade Thomson, only because he’s going to be unaffordable for the Braves next year, and the team won’t need him then anyway with two or more kids waiting in the wings to replace him. And also, because that finger injury last year was really unusual and a total surprise, and no one can say when or if it’ll happen again. If you can get something for him now, do it.
That’d free up another $4.75 mill and the Braves could replace him with … Chuck James. Yes, I’d give the little lefty a shot ahead of Davies, barring some big development this spring. James has simply dominated as a starter at every level of the minors, and the Braves should see if he can do it in The Show. If not, they know what they have in Davies and can bring him up in a hurry.
I wouldn’t trade Horacio, even though he loves Kobe Bryant. I wouldn’t deal him only because I remember how good he was in spurts last year and most of his rookie year, and he’s only making $2.2 million, and he’s young and left-handed. And because he went to Inglewood High in L.A., alma mater of a great Jayhawk, Paul Pierce.
If Horacio has a 15-win season, or even a good 12-win season, the Braves should be able to trade him for something solid then, because he’ll still be young and relatively affordable as a second-year arbitration guy. Or they could sign him to a little three-year contract or something.
I know some will say trade Sosa, that his value will never be higher than now after his fluke season. But I say, why was it a fluke season? I was one of the lasat on his bandwagon, but by late summer I had to say to myself, the dude’s doing it virtually every time out. Maybe he finally has it figured out.
And while he continually put runner on base and escaped almost every jam, the same could be said for Al Leiter most of his career. And Leiter was pretty damn good for about five years. Besides, I don’t think the Braves would be able to get equal value in return for Sosa, because I think most teams are hesitant to give up much for a guy with his career numbers and only one solid season.
OK, that’s it on the pitching. Enough for now on the starters, and I don’t want to try to hash out the bullpen until they throw a few times this spring. There’s about 10-12 guys fighting for 4-5 jobs in that pen, and performance is going to mean something this spring.
I’d say the only bullpen certainties right now are Reitsma, Villarreal (provided he stays healthy) and two lefties from group of John Foster, Remlinger and Macay McBride. Other than that, it’s up for grabs, but I’d lean toward Lerew and Devine making it, with Obermueller, Lance Cormier and others needing a good spring, and Blaine Boyer needing to prove his shoulder’s healthy.
That’s it for now. Gotta finish and get to the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show tonight.
By the way, speaking of bikes, T.P. (Pendleton) and Fred Gonzalez have four of the baddest-a#& motorcycles you’ll ever see major league coaches bring to spring training. Of course, they’re also four of the ONLY motorcycles you’ll see coaches bring to spring training, but that’s beside the point.
Each of them has a Harley and a Bourget customized bike (remember, Brian Jordan gave Fredi his Bourget, about $40K _ niiiice to know nice, rich people). It’s pretty cool to see these middle-aged coaches tooling up to the ballpark in the morning on their hogs. Midlife crisis is not just for us schlubbs.
(I just had to get in a line about them being middle-aged, because someone will bring it to their attention and they’ll both just give me more crap about owning a Triumph instead of a Harley. But I think most of you would agree, the Triumph Bonneville, one ridden by Bob Dylan, is a much cooler bike than a Harley, which are by now a dime a dozen and owned by every weekend warrior doctor and lawyer in America.)
OK, onward and upward.
Smoltz-Andruw matchup on tap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There aren’t many matchups that will get me excited in spring training. Grapefruit League games are Grapefruit League games, nothing more than exhibitions, glorified batting practice, etc.
But John Smoltz vs. Andruw Jones? Now, that’s interesting. But you’ll have to be here Sunday to see it, or hope that ESPN or one of the Atlanta stations will show some footage other than, say, one pitch.
Hey, I know it’s meaningless, but wouldn’t you folks love to see that in person? To see if both guys can pull it off without smiling? If Smoltz will really bear down, maybe brush Andruw back just a bit? What if Andruw takes him deep about 500 feet?
Anyway…
Other than that, I’d have to say the two things I’m most looking forward to in the immediate future are the Black Rebel Motorcyle Club show tomorrow night at The Social in Orlando, and the Coldplay show at the downtown Orlando arena (the Magic’s arena, whatever it’s called now) on Saturday after the Houston Astros game in Kissimmee. Gotta thank my man Chip Caray (Orlando resident) for scoring a ticket at such late notice for Coldplay.
OK, more hardball news:
Here’s something interesting. Bobby announced his pitching plans for first few games of spring training, and it includes Hudson going Saturday vs. Houston and Smoltz on Sunday vs. Netherlands WBC team.
Reason that’s interesting? Because if you count every fifth day forward, it would put Hudson starting opening day against Dodgers, Smoltz going in second game of season.
Smoltz was opening day starter last season, but has said he wants to reduce his innings this year and have Hudson be The Man that carries the most load in the rotation. Bobby Cox has also said he plans to occasionally skip Smoltz’s turn if he needs a rest this year, like he would a fifth starter when there’s an off day in the schedule.
This arrangement would be another indication that Cox and Smoltz are serious about that plan….
Not much happened over the weekend, when the Braves worked out late because of physicals in the mornings. Only thing of note was Brian Jordan taking grounders at first base, but I wouldn’t get too excited about that. He actually looked comfortable there (he was there again today, taking grounders), but I say not to get too excited because I just can’t see the Braves counting on him to be a platoon first baseman, or even a backup.
Not with his injury history and the fact that his knee could flare again at any time, not to mention the fact he’s only played the position twice in major league games, and not since 1996.
No, I see the Braves going with rookie James Jurries in a platoon with LaRoche, provided Jurries has a good spring and looks ready. If he doesn’t, or if LaRoche has a really outstanding spring and hits lefties and righties, maybe the Braves will give him LaRoche the chance to play every day and drop the platoon arrangement they’ve had the past two years.
It’s really too early to tell, but my gut just keeps telling me Jurries in a platoon with LaRoche is the way the Braves want to go.
What else is going on? Well, it got cool last night, but gorgeous today. About 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. From what I understand, not quite that nice back in ol’ Atlanta this past couple of weeks?
Braves play their first two Grapefruit League games against Dodgers Thursday and Friday, but I’m sure they won’t get to see Rafael Furcal on the field, not on the field at least. He’s still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Braves will try to keep their unbeaten streak alive in their annual college game against G. Tech or Georgia, this time against Dawks. Probably not fair this time, because Braves will use three of their key pitchers — Horacio, Villarreal and Reitsma, the latter two relievers getting time only because Bobby wants to use them once before they depart for the WBC training camps with Mexico (Villarreal) and Canada (Reitsma).
Last year Tech was no-hit by a handful of Braves pitchers. I’d put the over-and-under at about three hits this time around….
For those wondering where Giles is, he’s been away four days for a family matter. Sorry, but it’s a sensitive subject and it’s just not right to say anything more. Braves are praying for him and his loved ones, and that’s all I can say. They hope to have him back within a few days, but aren’t certain and are giving him as much time as he needs.
Bobby Cox doesn’t think it’ll be an issue and is confident Giles will have plenty of time to get ready and work with new shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Back woes bench Renteria
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Considering the year that Dan Kolb had for Atlanta in 2005, few expected the Braves to get much at all for him in a trade.
But Wes Obermueller actually looks capable of helping the Braves.
The 29-year-old right-hander looked quite good pitching against Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur in batting practice Friday, eliciting whispers and nods of approval from the players and team officials around the batting cage, including manager Bobby Cox and hitting coach Terry Pendleton.
“He threw the ball super,” Cox said. “He’s got good stuff, 92-94 (fastball), great slider, and he’s around the plate. Our scouts liked him, and you could see why.”
Obermueller didn’t have impressive numbers last year with the Brewers — 1-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 23 games (eight starts) — and frankly hasn’t done much worth noting in his four seasons of major league ball (62 G, 41 starts, 9-19, 5.71 ERA, 131 K, 104 walks, 256-1/3 innings). Not good.
But the Braves think he’s got the talent to blossom in the right situation, and Friday he looked like a guy capable of much more than he’s produced in the past with Kansas City and Milwaukee.
He certainly can’t be any worse than Kolb was in 2005, and the Braves probably hope he’ll help get the taste out of everyone’s mouth from that debacle.
The Braves traded 100-mph fastball-throwing prospect Jose Capellan to the Brewers at the 2004 winter meetings to get Kolb to be their closer. Kolb lost that job in May and blew seven of 18 saves while posting a 5.93 ERA in 65 games.
“The thing with Dan Kolb just didn’t work out for us,” Schuerholz said in a great understatment after trading him back to Milwaukee almost a year to the day at this past December’s winter meetings.
Not that it means much anymore, but just for nostalgic fun, let’s write and read this sentence in disbelief: Kolb was an All-Star for Milwaukee in 2004, when he had 39 saves and a 2.73 ERA.
In other news Friday, new shortstop Edgar Renteria was held out of the workout with a sore back after jumping out of the way of a ball in the batting cage Thursday. Bobby Cox said he might rest him again Saturday, but said it’s not a big deal and he just wants to make sure Renteria doesn’t develop a nagging injury.
The former Florida/St.Louis/Boston player has back problems off and on throughout his career, which I can attest to having covered him in his first few years in the majors when he was with the Marlins. Some in Boston last year said Renteria’s back had something to do with his career-worst 30-error season in his only year with the Red Sox.
Renteria hired a personal trainer this winter for the first time and worked out hard at his homes in Colombia and Miami Beach. He reported in good shape and the Braves expect big things from him after getting him to replace Rafael Furcal. They simply can’t afford to have him struggling with the back, so it’s a smart move to rest him now and get it right.
One other thing: Bobby praised Joey Devine again Friday, talking about the breaking ball he’s working on and how good the rookie looked. Devine is definitely a strong candidate for a bullpen job, though I’d suspect it’ll be a setup job for now, not closer. But who knows? Too early to tell.
For those curious about Chipper’s status, he’s gained back most of the weight he lost in his bout with the flu, and he looks stronger and more defined than the last couple of years. He only lost 8 pounds, not 18, while he was sick. And his hamstrings are healthy, for those who’ve asked about that, too. Of course, as we know, the Chipper medical update can change in a hurry. But he’s doing well, for now.
Spell relief “REMLINGER”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When the Braves signed aging lefty Mike Remlinger, I’ve got to admit I didn’t think he could do much to help their questionable bullpen.
But after watching him throw batting practice a couple of times down here at spring training, I’m thinking the old man — old being relative term, of course — has got enough left to help out. Provided he can stay healthy, Remlinger could help not just with experience and leadership in a young pen, but with his versatility.
He was a fastball/changeup guy in his previous stint with the Braves from 1999-2002, and that changeup made him more effective against righty hitters than lefties. But now, with his velocity down a bit after arm problems and surgery in recent years, Remlinger’s added a sharp breaking ball that buckled the knees of some good hitters Thursday, fooling Andruw Jones among others.
He could be a solid complement in a bullpen that has a lot of potential, but little in the way of proven veterans.
Chris Reitsma has done the most of the bunch and is the favorite for the closer role, but the Braves are going to let a few others compete for that job this spring: Oscar Villarreal, Blaine Boyer, Joey Devine and Anthony Lerew all will get some consideration, and if one steps ahead of the others this spring, he could leave Florida with the closer job.
I’d still bet on Reitsma hanging onto it, but the more conversations I have with team officials, the more it sounds like the Braves are serious about letting those other guys compete for the closer job.
Whatever happens, they all figure to compete for jobs in a bullpen that could also include other good young arms like Lance Cormier and will certainly include young lefty Macay McBride, whose future looks bright. Some believe McBride also has closer potential, but that’s probably down the line. For now, he looks like a solid lefty setup man. Lefty John Foster’s also back, which is good news if he pitches like he did early on last season, but bad if he pitches like he did later.
It’s tough to get a feel for where this bullpen’s headed. I really think it has the potential to be quite good or very bad, or anywhere between, depending upon the health of several guys including Boyer, who will probably throw off a mound next week for the first time since his shoulder inflammation knocked him out of the postseason.
The closer job obviously is the biggest question, but the Braves feel confident one or more of those guys will come to the fore and handle it. If not, they will try to make a move, but that wouldn’t come until midseason, I’d imagine, after they’ve given the guys they have time to prove themselves.
As for Remlinger, he’ll be 40 in March, and the Cubs and Red Sox gave up on him last year, he was so ineffective. But Remlinger said his arm felt rejuvenated after four months of rest, and that’s why he called the Braves to see if they were interested. They figured what the hell, it’s a low-risk proposition with potentially solid returns.
Remlinger was a Brave from 1999 through 2002, the year he posted a 1.99 ERA and .198 opponents’ average in 73 games for a historically dominant bullpen (Smoltz, Hammond, Holmes, Remlinger were the big guns, with help from Ligtenberg, young Spooneybarger and a few others).
Remlinger parlayed that into a three-year, $10.65 million deal with Chicago, where his strikeouts fell and ERA nearly doubled in 2003. He worked more than 70 games for five consecutive seasons before shoulder surgery in October 2003.
On another note, the weather’s been spectacular so far, but rain is headed in for the weekend. I think it’s been 80 or higher and sunny every day but one in the first 10 days down here. So perfect night and day; haven’t even needed to run the air conditioner or heater at the rented house, just windows open all the time.
Oh, and thought I’d let you know, Brian Jordan is driving the world’s largest pickup truck. It’s gotta be the largest. The thing is absurd. The cab literally sits higher than the cab of a semi, and you have to step up a retractable ladder to get in. He insists it got 10 miles a gallon on the drive down from Atlanta, adding “Better than my Hummer.”
For Jordan fans, he’s surprised Cox, I think, by how well he looks running and hitting. But Bobby said he probably won’t play him in the first few Grapefruit League games, because he wants to be careful with him coming off offseaon knee surgery. I think Jordan’s got a chance to make it as a backup outfielder, but I don’t know if it’s a good chance. There’s not room for him, Kelly Johnson and Matt Diaz all to make the team, and maybe for only one of them, especially if James Jurries makes it as a first baseman and backup corner outfielder.
But those are questions that won’t begin to be decided for at least a couple more weeks.
Full squad hits camp
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First full-squad workout. Not a cloud in the sky, temperature in the low-80s. Tons of TV cameras and too many people on the field not wearing uniforms.
Ah, but if can get past the the horde of cameramen and mic-wielding TV reporters and squeeze between club officials at the batting cage, there was quite a show by late-morning Thursday.
Once the winds shifted and started blowing across the field instead of in from center, Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur put on a show for the appreciative crowd, drawing oohs and ahhs with blasts that rattled off the scoreboard in center field, and a few moon shots that landed atop the grass berm in left field.
To me, the thing that stood out about Francoeur is just how big he is, after adding about 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason to an already big physique. When he’s standing next to former NFL standout d-back Brian Jordan at the batting cage, it’s obvious how much wide Francoeur is through the shoulders and hips, and he looks like he’ll probably carry another 15 pounds or more as he continues to fill out.
Another kid to keep an eye on: James Jurries, a first baseman/corner outfielder who is going to get roster consideration this spring. Bats right-handed and drives the ball hard up the middle, again and again. And as one Braves official told me, when a pitcher makes a mistake, he’s got the loft power to jack it out.
Who is he? He went to Tulane, was drafted in sixth round in 2002, and has a .282 average and 40 homers in just over 1,000 at-bats in three minor league seasons.
Jurries served a steroids suspension last season at Richmond. Dumb move from a smart guy. But to is credit, he admitted his mistake and didn’t try to use the it-must-have-been-in-a-supplement-I-bought-at-GNC excuse that others caught using steroids have hid behind. He served a suspension early last season, came back and finished the year with a .267 average, 18 homers and 56 RBIs in 318 at-bats. He’s in great shape this spring and, while he’s not going to win Gold Gloves, the Braves say he wouldn’t be a liability at first base and has good speed and skills in the outfield.
Those who don’t like Adam LaRoche for whatever reason — I should tell you now, I don’t think there’s any thought whatsoever of trading him this year, and Bobby Cox and the Braves still like him a lot.
I’m just saying this in case any of you actually care: The organization’s opinion of him hasn’t changed. That slow trip around the bases in Game 4 of the division series sticks in a lot of your minds, judging from blog responses and the like, but Cox and the Braves remember the grand slam he hit earlier in the game and the fact that LaRoche was so sick he was hurling in a trashcan before leaving the game.
Make light of that or don’t believe it if you choose not to, I honestly don’t care. I’m just telling you as a public service, that that’s what Cox and his teammates say and that’s how the Braves view that playoff game; the only place I hear anything about LaRoche failing to score is here, on this blog, from a few of you.
That said, with Julio Franco gone, the Braves would like to have someone to pick up the slack and use either in a straight platoon like LaRoche-Franco in the past two years, or at least to take a lot of the at-bats vs. lefties. Jurries could be that guy. They also like Scott Thorman, but Thorman, another big kid who can really hit. But Thorman bats left-handed, same as LaRoche, and Thorman could only play 1B in the majors, not the outfield corners like Jurries.
I wouldn’t address these subjects if it weren’t for persistent e-mails and blog responses from a few folks out there, but I’ll try to be as succinct and clear as possible:
John Smoltz is absolutely not going to go back to closer this year, whether or not some out there believe he should because the Braves have six starters. He’s NOT GOING BACK TO CLOSER, at least not this year. Not. Going. Back.
Chuck James is left-handed, and he’s either right there with Kyle Davies or right behind him in the line of succession should the Braves have a starter hurt or traded from the five — Smoltz, Hudson, Jorge Sosa, John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez (the last three could be in any order).
Chipper Jones went through the full workout Thursday. And just in case any of you believed the idiot who wrote in a blog that Chipper’s foot problem stems from webbed toes, I can assure you he does not have any such abnormality. His toes are entirely normal. He does have bad feet, however. As Chipper himself pointed out, he has bunions that have led to his other foot woes.
Later.
Stardom surely awaits ‘Salty’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After a week at Braves camp on the edge of Have Fun Or Else theme park, I’m here to report that your Atlanta Braves are not afraid of the Mets and the kid named “Salty” is going to be a star.
But you probably already knew that.
Here’s a couple of quick issues, developments, and observations from what’s been a quiet camp so far, but will get turned up several notches when full-squad workouts start Wednesday:
The Braves are extremely high on lefty Chuck James, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s in their rotation at some point this season. I’d go so far as to say that right now, he’s ahead of Kyle Davies and if something were to happen, injury or trade, to one of the returning five veteran starters, James could be in the rotation.
The closer job really does look like it’s going to be Reitsma’s, judging from everything I’m hearing from Bobby Cox and others. But Oscar Villarreal has looked very good so far in camp, and he’s going to play a big role as a setup guy and fallback option at the closer role, should Reitsma have any problems.
Andruw Jones is in great shape, the best shape he’s ever reported in. If he doesn’t hit 45 homers, I’ll be surprised. Yes, 45 — or more. Mark it down.
Chipper’s been sick as a dog, sort of a flu relapse (he lost 8 pounds in 8 days after coming down with flu in January, and got sick again). But he’s looked better last couple days and was well enough to play 36 holes of golf Friday and go to Daytona 500 in the pits. Still hasn’t said whether he’ll pull out of WBC, but I’d guess he’ll play. And the important thing that’s not been mentioned is the fact that his troublesome foot hasn’t been troublesome for some time now. Remember when he and everyone else thought he’d need surgery soon as season ended and some believed he wouldn’t be ready for spring training? Not even an issue anymore. At least not right now. Nevermind the lost weight; as long as his foot and hamstrings stay healthy, he’ll produce. After two injury-plagued seasons, I look for him to get back to 100-RBI form this year.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a big dude, and he’s got “Salty” tattoed down his left triceps. Just thought I’d let you know, since you who aren’t in the clubhouse can’t see it unless you look real close and see one letter poking from beneath his uniform sleeve. Oh, and by the way, he can absolutely hit, and hit for power. From both sides of the plate. His batting practices are special. If they have to make him a first baseman at some point, they should and probably will. He’s going to be too good at Double-A to keep down on the farm much longer, I have a feeling.
OK, a general thought to wrap this up:
When a team wins 14 consecutive division titles, they develop a vast amount of confidence, and those coming up in the organization latch onto just by looking around and listening to what the veterans are saying. Langerhans, Francoeur, McBride … they all hear Chipper and Andruw and Smoltz and Hudson talking about the Braves’ expectations and they all adopt the same approach. Already have.
So that’s good for, what, 10 games over the course of the season? And Bobby Cox is good for another 10 or more, if you believe Braves players, and plenty of players on other teams.
Going into the season with a figurative 20-game lead — that would help explain how the Braves held off challenges from the Marlins, Phillies and Mets in recent years and continued their absurd divisional title run.
Of course, once the playoffs start, that confidence is no longer a factor. Not only does every other team in the postseason feel good about themselves after advancing to the playoffs, but in many cases they probably will feel better about their chances than the Braves do, simply because they haven’t experienced playoff failure and don’t enter with the baggage and pressure the Braves probably feel after so many playoff disappointments.
But that’s a story for another time, a concern the Braves and their fans can only hope they once again have to face in October.
For now, it’s all about trying to get there again, trying to hold off what could arguably be the toughest opponent the Braves have faced in the NL East since, well, since the 1997 Marlins were assembled with the likes the Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Moises Alou, Edgar Renteria, Charles Johnson, pitchers Kevin Brown, Al Leiter, Alex Fernandez and Robb Nen, and midseason additions Darren Daulton and Craig Counsell. Whew, what a group that was. But the Braves did hold them off, at least in the division standings. When the NLCS rolled around, it was a different story. The Marlins knew they could beat Atlanta, and did.
As for these Mets, their lineup is loaded. But take a look at that rotation, after Pedro and Glavine. Trachsel, V. Zambrano, Heilman? Come on. You spend all that money adding Carlos Delgado and Lo Duca to a lineup that already had Carlos Beltran, Reyes, Wright and Floyd, and adding Billy Wagner to your bullpen, you’ve GOT to put together a better rotation than that. Don’t you? Letting Mrs. Benson (and Kris) go was one thing — perhaps addition by subtraction, given the silly controversy that always swirls around the couple. But also trading away Jae Seo, now that was a move they’ll regret.
That rotation just doesn’t stand up, not even close, to the Braves’ rotation. And since the Marlins are going to be a non-factor, and the Phillies GM himself concedes that his team isn’t good enough to win the division, and the Nationals are the Nationals … well, folks, how many of you really believe the Braves’ streak ends this year? A show of hands, please.
Now, this surely will invite a barrage of anti-Cox bloggers who say it doesn’t matter if they win the division and lose again in the first round. Fine, just cut-and-paste your previous posts on that matter.
I’m not here to defend the Braves or try to convince you that every other team in baseball, with the exception of the Yankees, would gladly trade their last 15 seasons for the Braves. Believe that if you want, or convince yourselves that you’d prefer to win two titles like the Marlins and be awful every few years like the Marlins after they hold a fire sale. I know the few Marlins people who’ve been with the organization the longest, because I covered the team seven years.
And I’ll just tell you, every one of them, every time the Braves play Florida, shakes their head in wonder at what the Braves do, and every one says how miserable it is playing in front of 10,000 people in rainy Florida every year except the years they won the World Series. The Marlins would gladly swap their last 10 years with the Braves, and those who don’t believe that, well, you’re just wrong.
Do the Braves believe they should have won more than one World Series? Of course. It kills them inside that they haven’t. Absolutely, it does. I find it hard to believe they haven’t, looking back at all their chances.
But they also have a right to be proud of what they’ve done, don’t you think?
Smoltz has new approach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves opened a new training camp this morning, and John Smoltz has a new mantra to go with it — slow down.
Before Braves pitchers and catchers went through their 9:30 a.m. workout at sunny Disney World, Smoltz discussed in detail how he plans to pull back this season, to slow down, relax, take the foot off the gas pedal. The soon-to-be 39-year-old veteran said he realizes he tried to do too much last season, and that going eight or nine innings every game during a long stretch last summer wasn’t the wisest move for him or the team.
He said that from Day 1 of spring training this year, he plans to pull back a bit. That means not throwing max-effort all the time, relying on good mechanics instead of trying to muscle pitches past hitters, and watching his innings. Smoltz said he always wanted to be the guy who could go four innings when spring training began, but this year he’s thrown less in the offseason and will bring himself along slower during spring training.
When the season starts, he vows not to push himself harder than he should. Even if he feels like he can put the team on his shoulders during a Braves slump, he said he won’t do it by pitching eight or nine innings game after game.
As Tim Hudson pointed out, plenty of Braves wondered whether it was best for Smoltz to push so hard so soon last summer, but no one is going to question him or Bobby Cox, and Cox was going to trust Smoltz to let him know when he could pitch and for how long. Hudson also has doubts about whether Smoltz will be able to “pull in the reins” because of his competitive nature.
Smoltz conceded he can be his own worst enemy, that the drive that’s made him what he is today can also be what hurts him. But he said he’s serious about changing things at this late stage of his career. We’ll see, seems to be the reaction among peers. They hope he’ll follow through with his plan, and be at full strength if and when the Braves get to the postseason.
That’s the whole point, Smoltz said: Stay healthy and be at his best at the end of the season and in the playoffs.
Last year, his otherwise resoundingly successful return to the starting rotation after three-plus seasons of closing was spoiled when he faltered after a series of nagging injuries contributed (he believes) to an inflamed shoulder that undermined his performance in the stretch drive. The shoulder was so sore in his division series start against Houston, Smoltz said he wouldn’t have been able to pitch if the team had advanced to the NLCS, which they didn’t.
Anyway, that was the theme from Smoltz on Friday. We’ll cover it in more detail for the paper tomorrow, with a story to be posted later today.
The Braves pitchers and catchers appear to all be here, present and accounted for. No one detained at the border or lost on the freeways.
One side note: Newcomer Carlos Almanzer, a 32-year-old veteran reliever who’s coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery, was quickly and quietly pulled aside and informed by Bobby Cox that Almanzer’s appearance — specifically, beads in his long hair — didn’t meet Braves standards. The braids were out before Almanzer hit the field.
That’s the way Cox runs things here — no strict rules regarding facial hair, earrings, etc., just look professional and use common sense. And when someone doesn’t meet that standard, they’re notified privately.
Tough to argue with the results over the past 15 years.
Baseball jargon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ah, pitchers and battery mates. Skippers, can of corn and second sackers. With spring training under way, we’d like to hear your favorite pieces of baseball jargon and cliches. The more arcane the better.
For the rookies, please explain your term or saying.
Swing on…
Predictions o’ plenty
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The blast of cold air that hit Atlanta this weekend couldn’t have come at a better time. Nothing like seeing the thermometer sitting below 30 degrees and a little snow on the ground this morning to motivate me to start packing for tomorrow’s trip to spring training. Wish you could be there (and I know some of you will be, at least for part of the Grapefruit League season).
Since there’s really nothing new to report until we get down to Orlando, let’s make a few predicitions entering spring training. You tell me what you think, if you agree or disagree.
Predicted order of finish in the NL East:
Braves
Mets
Phillies
Nationals
Marlins
Other division winners:
NL Central: Cards; NL West: Padres; AL East: Yankees; AL Central: White Sox; AL West: A’s
Wild cards: Mets, Angels.
Pennant winners: Cardinals, White Sox
World Series champion: Cardinals over White Sox.
MVP: NL, Albert Pujols; AL, Travis Hafner
Cy Young: NL, Roy Oswalt; AL, Johan Santana
Rookie: NL, Jeremy Hermida (yes, there are a few good local guys not playing for the Braves); AL, Delmon Young (D-Rays can only keep ‘em till they get expensive).
Home run leader: NL, Andruw Jones; AL, A-Rod
If you guys want to pick a few more categories — RBIs, saves, batting leader, etc. — feel free to do so, and me and others can respond with our opinions.
Now, you’ll notice I have Andruw repeating as home run leader. That’s not me being a homer (pardon pun). I really think that’s his game now, hitting .270-.280 with a ton of homers. His swing and approach, and his improved strength, should translate to another 45 or more homers. Barry Bonds won’t make it through the season. Hell, he might not make it TO the seasona.
Of course, if the Braves don’t have anyone protecting Andruw, it’ll make it tougher. But who’d they have protecting him last year?
I think Bobby will go with Giles, Renteria, Chipper and Andruw in first four spots, but you never know. If, say, Langerhans had a solid spring, he could potentially move up to the second spot and Renteria could bat fifth behind Andruw. If Renteria is the hitter he was in his three seasons with Cardinals, he’ll collect a boatload of RBIs hitting behind Andruw. Keep in mind, Renteria’s .288 career batting average includes .303 with runners on base, and even in last year’s subpar .276 season with Boston, he batted .292 with a .369 OBP with runners on, and .298/.372 with men in scoring position.
For his career, Renteria’s best numbers came from the Nos. 5-6 holes in the order, including a .306 average, .378 on-base percentage and .800 OPS in the fifth spot. Granted, this Braves lineup is hardly the lineup that Renteria was part of in St. Louis, but at least it’s an option, particularly if Langerhans or someone else steps up this spring.
I also think Jeff Francoeur could end up hitting as high as fifth in the order, if he can get a better grasp of the strike zone and not chase so many bad pitches. Nobody wants to disrupt Francoeur’s natural aggressiveness, but this is going to be a season in which he’s required to make adjustments. Every pitcher and team is going to have “the book” on him now, and we’ll find out if Francoeuer’s September dropoff last year was nothing more than a kid not being quite ready to react to pitchers’ adjustments.
It’ll be interesting to watch several guys this week when pitchers and catchers report, particularly offseason pickups Oscar Villarreal (might he be a legit closer option?), Brad Baker (will the former minor league closer with the mid-90s fastball make the most of this chance?), Wes Obermueller (he’s only 23, but the former Brewers swing man comes with the stigma of being traded this winter for Dan Kolb), and — last but certainly not least — Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Not that “Salty” is going to make the team, but it’ll be interesting to see just how far the catcher and No. 1-rated Braves prospect has come.
If he keeps raging with his bat in the minors, Saltalamacchia could be converted to first base in order to pave a quicker path to the majors. But he’ll start out the season behind the plate in Double-A ball. The Braves have a top young catcher in McCann, but one only has to look at last season to see how quickly things can change with an injury. When Johnny Estrada got plowed over by Darren Erstad in June and Eddie Perez was hurt, the Braves were desperate for a catcher and fortunate that McCann was ready to step in directly from Double-A. Newcomer Todd Pratt’s a fine backup, but not an everday guy at 38.
OK, enough rambling. Got to finish packing, etc.
Hey, have any of you been watching “The Office” on NBC? Is that the most hilarious sitcom on TV, or what? “My Name is Earl” is on right before it and also real good, and “Scrubs” is better than ever this season. But with the unfortunate demise of “Arrested Development,” I’d have to cast my vote for The Office as the funniest sitcom (Daily Show and Stephen Colbert Report in a different category, not sitcoms). Just good to see there’s actually funny shows on TV again, after years of nothing but lame, formula-following crap.
Looking forward to seeing the Neil Young movie that started last week in New York and couple other cities. But since I’m going to be in Orlando the next six weeks, might have to wait. I doubt they’ll be showing such fare at the theatres on Disney property or anywhere nearby. Old Neil is a bit subversive for the mouse-eared fascists (kidding, Disney folks, if you’re reading this).
But can Mick Jagger close?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Super Bowl is over — soon, even ESPN’s coverage will mercifully conclude — and there are only 10 days until pitchers and catchers report.
Hallelujah.
The crack of bats and popping of mitts was beautiful noise last week at Turner Field, where new pitching coach Roger McDowell assembled his charges for the first time and seemed genuinely pleased by what he has to work with. And one couldn’t help but notice the continued improvement in Andruw Jones’ offseason conditioning when he and a handful of other Braves stopped by to hit during voluntary, informal sessions on the field while the pitchers were doing their thing in the bullpen.
For now, we’ll focus on the pitchers.
Observing the power arms and overall talent on the premises at the first week of McDowell’s pitching camp, it was understandable why Leo Mazzone’s replacement feels good about his new pitching staff. The Braves have plenty of quality pitchers. But do they have a closer? Hopefully, that question will be answered and won’t be an issue that hangs over the entire season the way it did for most of 2005.
I spoke with Chris Reitsma on the phone Saturday from his home in Calgary, Alberta. Reitsma and Jorge Sosa were the only key returning pitchers not present at the pitching camp, but both had valid excuses Sosa is pitching for the Dominican in the Caribbean World Series, and the Reitsma has a wife and two young kids at home and a very long trip ahead when he comes south for spring training and the season. He’s also pitching for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, so he’s already been throwing some earlier than usual.
Reitsma wants the closer job and will get a chance to win it. Bobby Cox believes in him and so do teammates from John Smoltz to Blaine Boyer, the former and possibly future Braves closers. Smoltz and Boyer were among those last week who said they believe the job should be Reitsma’s, that he showed last summer what he could do in the role before injuring his knee and having a few bad outings that led to Kyle Farnsworth taking over the job for the stretch drive.
Reitsma refuses to make excuses for his late-summer slip-up, and only after prodding will he acknowledge that, yeah, the hyperextended knee might have affected him. The important thing is, he wants the job and wants everyone to know he’s not at all intimidated by it. Mentally, he believes he’s suited to handle it. As Smoltz will tell you, the mental part is huge in the equation. Smoltz believes Reitsma has the power stuff to go with the mental side of the job.
I just talked to John Schuerholz Monday morning and he reiterated that Bobby Cox is confident that the Braves have the personnel in this bullpen to get the job done. We’ll see. Schuerholz said a trade could still go down this spring, but he doubts it. In other words, unless something falls in their laps, or unless the Braves are absolutely uncomfortable with what they have after they’ve assembled in Orlando and gone through a few weeks of training camp and Grapefruit League games, then this current staff is probably what the Braves are going to enter the season with.
Schuerholz again mentioned offseason pickups Oscar Villarreal and Brad Baker and Joey Devine as closer possibilities along with Reitsma, but it sounds as if Reitsma is the clear leading candidate. Schuerholz said Jorge Sosa was arguably the Braves’ most consistent starter last season and is probably going to stay in that role. In other words, Sosa almost certainly isn’t going to be the closer.
Boyer himself believes Reitsma should be the guy. Boyer has the stuff and mentality to contend for the job in the future, but he’s coming back from an inflamed shoulder that kept him out of the division series as a rookie, and he probably won’t catch up with the rest of the pitching staff until the middle of spring training, at the earliest.
As for the pitching camp, the turnout — 19 pitchers — is the largest the Braves have had for the early throwing program, formerly known as Camp Leo. The pitchers, to a man, seem really positive about all that they see and hear from McDowell, a former major league reliever who knows how to handle everything, including the media, without sounding arrogant or impatient. He’s smooth, in a good way. Not slick. Doesn’t lean on coach-speak or cliches to answer questions, and he didn’t try to blow in and establish his authority by laying down a bunch of rules with the pitchers.
His first week’s been a success. Of course, things will soon get a great deal more demanding.
OK, enough about pitching camp. Only so much we can glean from the exercise.
On to a couple other pertinent matters:
The Super Bowl: Am I just getting more jaded in my 40s, or was this entire mind-numbing day-long event more boring than usual? The Stones — love ‘em. Rather, I love playing “Exile On Main Street,” “Let It Bleed,” “Through the Past Darkly,” “Aftermath,” or any of a half-dozen other LPs they recorded a while back. They were great in the ’60s, but not in THEIR 60s. Sorry, but it’s just not right watching Mick strut about in front of thousands of people told by producers where to stand and how to jump up and down and look real excited. And if the cordless mike ain’t going to work, then use the old kind, old man….
One thing I noticed during ESPN’s epic coverage was a missed opportunity on their part to note the Super Bowl experience of the network’s analysts. Viewers today probably don’t realize that Mark Schlarath and Michael Irvin have each won a few Super Bowl rings….
Hey, wasn’t their any way that Chris Berman could work that priceless clip of skinny Berman catching the pass at Buccaneers camp about 47 years ago into the Super Sunday pregame festivities? I haven’t seen that clip in at least three weeks, and miss it. By the way, did you know at the Hotel California, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave?…
OK, this one’s difficult for me: Aaron Neville. Love the Neville Brothers. Have seen them twice at JazzFest in New Orleans. “Yellow Moon” — classic album. Nothing like the Nevilles. Remarkable family, huge influence on music, true royalty in the Crescent City. All that said, Aaron has become a caricature, trotted out at all these huge events — sports, tribute shows, awards shows — as a way for event organizers to feel good about themselves, as if they’ve got some kind of hip edge. They (organizers) don’t. None of them.
Oh well, at least Aaron’s gotten rich (I assume he has. I hope he has). And besides, better him and Aretha at the Super Bowl than, say, Justin Timberlake. Or Big & Rich at the NBA All-Star Game. Or Big & Rich anywhere else, for that matter….
Best National Anthem ever at a sporting event? No, don’t start with Whitney. It was Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game at the Forum. No contest. If you don’t remember it, then you didn’t see it. It won’t be topped. It can’t be topped….
With spring training about to commence, my entertainment nights will dwindle. Fortunately, the recent run of good shows continued with a blazing show by The Hold Steady over the weekend at The Earl. Man, these boys can rock. Smart, boozy, tight band that’s going to get bigger in a hurry. They already showed up on a lot of critics’ best-of lists with their CD, Separation Sunday, that came out last summer, and their live show is every bit as impressive, if not more so. Watching him, a thought to myself that the lead singer seems like a cross between young Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello, though he looks like a Husker Du-era Bob Mould with glasses (OK, did I just lose 90 percent of the Braves audience still reading this?) And he’s got great charisma, thrashing about on stage and telling entertaining little stories between songs. Get the CD if you like rock with great lyrics and a punk edge and an overall sound that seems like it could fall apart at the hinges at any moment, but doesn’t.
OK, I’m done. Go easy on me.
