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Sunday, March 16, 2008
Not so fast on Braves backup jobs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lovetron … er, Jupiter, Fla. _ Coming to you not from Darryl Dawkins’ home planet, but from the spring home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins, a fine little ballpark with a good BBQ concession (just ate the pulled pork).
Before we go any further, do you folks realize (I’m sure you do) that it’s just TWO WEEKS UNTIL OPENING DAY! That’s right two weeks from tonight, Braves will be playing the Nationals on ESPN at the new ballpark in D.C.
Lot of decisions to make between now and then. More on that in a moment.
We often say we’re going to keep the blog short, but rarely if ever do it. But today I’m going to stick to the vow, because it’s Sunday, it was a long trip down here, and because I want to get this posted by gametime or shortly thereafter (it’s 12:50 p.m. as I start this thing; game’s in 15 minutes).
Had to set the cruise and be careful on the highway today, because the trooper were pulling folks over left and right, up and down the Florida turnpike. So I set it below 80, fired up a stogie, drank my coffee and listened to great tunes - George Jones’ “The Grand Tour” CD, Bruce Springsteen’s “Magic,” Black Francis’ (or Frank Black’s) “Bluefinger,” and the Hold Steady’s “Hold Steady Almost Killed Me.”
The turnpike makes for a good listening experience, no distractions.
The Bravos are here for back-to-back games with the Cardinals, the only overnight trip each spring for us. By now you’re so sick of your living arrangements outside Dark Star, you’re ready for a hotel, any hotel.
So it’s the team hotel, the nondescript but perfectly suitable Marriott just down I-95 from the ballpark.
I tell fans interested in seeing the Braves during spring training that this trip to Jupiter is always a good one to make, simply because the Braves bring all their position players here for the overnighter, the only time all spring where you can count on seeing basically the “real” lineup.
Today’s lineup: 1. Kelly Johnson, 2B; 2. Yunel Escobar, SS; 3. Chipper Jones, 3B; 4. Mark Teixeira, 1B; 5. Brian McCann, C; 6. Jeff Francoeur, RF; 7. Mark Kotsay, CF; 8,. Matt Diaz, LF; 9. Tom Glavine, LH.
Like I said, the real lineup.
Cardinals have a couple of high-number guys — OFs Skip Schumaker and Brian Barton at top of the order, one or both might make team — mixed in with Albert “Elbow Implosion Pending” Pujols, Troy Glaus, Rick Akiel, Yadier Molina, Adam Kennedy, Cesar Izturis. And they’ve got righty Todd Wellemeyer toeing the slab (he’s got a 2.61 ERA and .211 opponents’ average in 10-1/3 innings this spring, but has issued eight walks).
Decisions, decisions: Roster decisions have a way of deciding themselves many springs, what with injuries or great performances or trades or whatever.
But that’s not the case with the last few decisions the Braves have to make - couple of bullpen jobs, backup catcher and fourth outfielder.
As I typed that sentence, Chipper Jones just crushed a two-out homer in the first inning, solo shot. Hoss had the best batting practice I’ve seen all spring from him, hitting shot after shot to left, to right, just about everything clearing the fences and a few balls crashing into the Cards and Marlins offices beyond the outfields.
OK, back to positions, and wrapping this up.
The fourth outfielder job: We came to spring training assuming that Brandon Jones was going to be the fourth OF and platoon in LF. Quickly became apparent the Braves were leaning toward using Matt Diaz on a regular basis, more an every-day player than platoon.
It also quickly became apparent they were planning to go with a fourth outfielder who could play center field and play it well, since Mark Kotsay’s backup might have to play a lot (maybe you’ve heard, Kots has been hurt a little in recent seasons).
So Josh Anderson emerged as the early talk of camp and frontrunner for the fourth OF job. But don’t pencil him in just yet, folks.
Gregor Blanco has made significant improvement each of the past two seasons, maturing, refining his approach. He’s stopped swinging from his heels, he’s choked up on the bat, he’s not striking out like he used to, and he’s played very well in the OF, including a spectacular diving catch in RF last week - in is first game at the position.
Bobby Cox has gone from not liking Blanco as a player a couple of years ago, to really liking what he’s doing now. That’s a big plus for Blanco in the decision process.
He’s a natural CF, and Blanco could end up getting that fourth OF job. Anderson has options, so he could be sent back to Triple-A if the Braves decide to go with, say, Joe Borchard as power bat/fifth OF/1B or with two utility infielders.
Speaking of utility men, it looks like Martin Prado has moved ahead of Brent Lillibridge if the Braves take only one. Bobby Cox hasn’t said that, but it’s apparent talking to others with the team, that the general consensus is Lillibridge, while unquestionably a very talented player with a bright future, could use some more minor league seasoning in the hitting department.
We’ll discuss the relievers again later (we’ve kicked that subject around so much in recent days, just nothing new and interesting to talk about in that regard, but feel free to discuss).
But just one last word, about the catchers.
So much has been written about Javy Lopez’ bid for the backup job that some folks have assumed the job is his long as he’s healthy and can swing the bat. Not so fast, folks. Don’t count out Brayan Pena (out of options, always a consideration) or Clint Sammons, the best catch-and-throw guy of the quarter of candidate that also includes journeyman Corky Miller, who hit a grand slam Saturday (it was a bit wind-aided, but still a well-struck slam that tied the game before Blaine Boyer hit a couple of guys and gave up the winning run in the ninth).
OK, that’s it for now. I’ll be watching NCAA Selection Sunday from there, but gonna have to watch the Carolina-Clemson and KU-Texas game with glances over my shoulder here at the TV in the back of the pressbox.
How ‘bout a tune?
”I’M FREE” by Merle Haggard
Though I haven’t got a penny to my name
I’ve got wealth beyond compare just the same
In my mind the greatest treasure there could be
Just to live the way I live because I’m free
I’m not bound to anyone that takes my time or pleasures that will pray up on my mind
And I walk the roads and do just as I please my life belongs to me cause I’m free
I’m free from social ties that tend to bind me
Or to live the life that wasn’t meant for me
Competing for the things that have no meaning
I’m wealthy in my mind because I’m free
The ribbons of the land that keep me a knowing
There’s always something new for me to see
A whistle in the wind then I’ll be going to live the way I live because I’m free
Though I haven’t got a penny…
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