AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 12
Monday, February 12, 2007
New season, new attitude for East ex-champs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spring training is only a few days away, and I really get a sense that most of the Braves and members of Braves Nation _ shrinking though it may be, with the steady decline in TBS national telecasts _ are especially geeked up for this one.
Excited, anxious, more eager to get this thing going than they have been in recent years. Am I right? Do you guys get that feeling? Or it is more trepidation? You tell me.
I just think that maybe it took getting knocked off the NL East throne to stir some folks from complacency _ maybe not just fans, but front-office officials and players, too.
But for the first time since 1991, the Braves are going to spring training both as an underdog and without the supreme confidence, arrogance or whatever you call it, that accompanied them in everything they did in previous years.
Even if they were picked to finish behind the Mets or Phillies or Marlins in the past decade, the Braves always had that swagger, always would roll their eyes, perhaps say the right thing for reporters about having to respect all these teams aiming to knock them off, but deep inside really not have any fear whatsoever, no doubt that they could hold off all challengers.
Now they’re challengers, and the swagger resides in Queens, and even in Philadelphia. The Mets and Phillies really believe the Braves aren’t that special anymore, regardless of what some of those team’s players and officials might say publicly when asked directly about the Braves.
They’ll say how you can’t overlook them and how they’re still the Braves and all that, but I really don’t think most of them will mean it, not like they would’ve if you’d asked them a year ago.
And that’s good for the Braves, if you ask me. Teams aren’t going to be as intimidated when the Braves roll into town this year, or when those teams come to Turner Field. The Braves know it. And they’re driven by it.
The many holdovers from last year’s Braves hate that they were part of the team that blew the streak. They’re angry and seem especially motivated _ every one of them that I’ve talked to this winter says as much.
Meanwhile, newcomers like relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez are thrilled to be going to a team that was in 14 of the past 15 postseasons.
We all know it’s going to come down to pitching. The offense will be good to very good (not great, I’d guess, but good to very good, and definitely productive enough). The bullpen is going to be dominant.
The starting rotation is going to be … well, if you can say with any certainty, then you’ve got a better feel for it than me. I really don’t know.
It’s strange because this rotation really could be anywhere from below average, if Hampton struggles in his comeback and Hudson pitches like he did last year, to very good, if those two pitch well and Smoltz and James repeat their performance level from last season.
People wonder if Smoltz’s divorce might affect him on the field, and I’ve said several times already, I really think he’s one of those rare guys who can compartmentalize things and not be distracted when he’s focused on the task at hand.
Another was Rafael Furcal in the division series a couple years ago, when he knew he was going to jail the day after the Braves were eliminated (for his second DUI charge inside five years), yet he performed at a high level and never seemed distracted while in uniform.
And don’t forget, Smoltz is in the option year of his contract, and has no intention of retiring as long as he stays healthy. So he’s in a free-agent “walk” year just like Andruw, though almost-40 Smoltz’s next deal obviously isn’t going to be half as long or lucrative as the not-quite-30 nine-time Gold Glove center fielder.
I’ll go on record now and say I feel very confident that Smoltz will be back with the Braves by the way. Very confident. I’m fairly certain they’ll re-sign him, far more certain than I am that they’ll be able to afford Andruw, though I also think they’ve got at least a decent shot at doing that.
Anyway, if those first four starters are all pitching well, the fifth starter just needs to be serviceable for this to be a very good rotation. But that’s a big “if” _ all four of those guys have to clicking, or the fifth starter _ Davies likely _ has to step up and pitch well.
But the rotation doesn’t have to be great, just good, for the Braves to have a strong chance to win the division. I really believe that.
Right now, if I had to pick: 1. Braves, 2. Mets, 3. Marlins or Phillies, pick ‘em; 5. Nationals.
There, I’ve done it. Call me a homer, but I really just think it’s going to work out for the Braves, and I don’t have any faith in the Mets’ starting rotation. And while I don’t expect the Marlins and Phillies to finish in a dead heat, I do think it’ll be only a game or two between them, in whatever order.
Another voice heard on Kelly Johnson: We’ve told you how much Cox likes Kelly Johnson and how both the manager and GM John Schuerholz agree that Johnson is probably the frontrunner to be the leadoff hitter provided he wins the second base job.
Here’s another influential voice to give you an idea why the Braves believe Johnson can handle the leadoff job:
“The fact that he can do some positive things offensively,” hitting coach Terry Pendleton said. “At the plate he’s more a veteran because of the way he approaches it, or attacks it _ not in a hurry to get things done.
“That allows him to take a walk, to get on base that way. He doesn’t get the calls sometimes because he’s a young player, but he’s got a great eye up there.”
Interesting about the inexperience factor and how it can play against a patient rookie, because some umps simply aren’t as likely to give him a close call as they would be for a proven hitter whose shown a knowledge of the strike zone for many years _ Chipper, for instance.
And I agree completely. Watch games sometimes and you’ll see a veteran pitcher with modest stuff but exceptional command just slice and dice patient young hitters by throwing everything an inch or so off the plate and getting a lot of called strikes.
And now, in tribute of her new album coming out Tuesday….
“LAKE CHARLES” by Lucinda Williams
He had a reason to get back to Lake Charles
He used to talk about it/He’d just go on and on
He always said Louisana/Was where he felt at home
He was born in Nacogdoches
That’s in East Texas/Not far from the border
But he liked to tell everybody/He was from Lake Charles
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments
We used to drive/Thru Lafayette and Baton Rouge
In a yellow El Camino/Listening to Howling Wolf
He liked to stop in Lake Charles/Cause that’s the place that he loved
Did you run about as far as you could go
Down the Lousiana highway/Across Lake Pontchartrain
Now your soul is in Lake Charles/No matter what they say
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments
He had a reason to get back to Lake Charles
He used to talk about it/He’d just go on and on
He always said Louisana/Was where he felt at home
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments
Did an angel whisper in your ear
And hold you close and take away your fear
In those long last moments
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