AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > March > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USExercising rites of spring
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — This was the most popular day of spring training — a day off. Golf, fishing, going shopping with Baby. Well, that may be stretching it a bit. Time was, players didn’t take wives to spring training. Couldn’t afford it. Teams put players up in hotels with a roommate, the Bainbridge in St. Petersburg, the Manatee River in Bradenton, the Angebilt in Orlando, and the Astros were so cheesey players were stuffed into a dormitory on the grounds. That was many Marvin Miller years ago.
Spring training for the Braves this year was more or less for the exercise. Bobby Cox could have filled out his opening-day lineup card in February and it would still have played in April. This might be a hard sell among the clientele of Turner Field, who are not too happy that Marcus Giles was dropped like a hot potato and that Adam LaRoche was passed along for a short reliever. Or, that Kelly Johnson has been the second baseman since the first pulled muscle, and Scott Thorman the first baseman.
The brightest prospect in camp is another second baseman, Martin Prado, another one of those infielders from Venezuela. Johnson has picked it up with the bat, and by opening day he will have played his way into the manager’s heart. Thorman was a slow beginner, with a swing that needed some kick in it. He’s a big hunk, with the build of a tight end, and when he does start connecting, the fences won’t hold him. It all comes with confidence.
And if it doesn’t come, there’s Craig Wilson behind him. I don’t know how the Braves were lucky enough to pick up this guy running around loose. He has some wallop and three seasons ago hit 29 home runs for the Pirates. He’s a happy fellow with a clownish sense of humor and appears to have an aversion for barbers. In a pinch, he can play left field, where there’s already a dogfight on between Ryan Langerhans and Matt Diaz. The left-handed Langerhans has more power and is a classic defender, and it makes no difference to Diaz what side the pitch is coming from.
Cox will carry three backup infielders, and this is not a subject to be taken lightly, considering Chipper Jones’ uncertain underpinning. (Lord, how fast the warranties seem to run out on these young bucks.) Willy Aybar filled in ably last season, Chris Woodward is a reliable veteran, and the cheerful Pete Orr is good to have around for his variety of uses. And since Johnson is equipped for either infield or outfield duty, why not?
Two absolutes for this year and many down the road are Brian McCann, one of the purest hitters in the league, and Jeff Francoeur, and so much for that. Andruw Jones has reached such salary heights he may play himself out of town.
The subject of pitching is centered in the bullpen, where the Braves have been hoarding middle men, set-up men, closers and all sorts who fit those scientific terms. No excuses this season. They’ve tapped various resources to plug the gap that John Smoltz left when he went back to starting, then made divorce headlines.
Cox now has his choice of three closers, bear-like Bob Wickman; Mike Gonzalez, for whom they gave up LaRoche; and Rafael Soriano, for whom they gave up Horacio Ramirez.
Then when Mike Hampton began feeling his oats, he takes a few swings with the bat and discovers that he has one of those muscles they call “oblique.” Gone for two months. I think he’s supposed to be in his $14 million salary stage this season, I’m not sure, but any way you look at it, Hampton has been the Braves’ most depressing investment, in company with the deal that brought J.D. Drew to town in exchange for Adam Wainwright, one good season or a 10-year starter, or more.
Then I checked the latest season projections, and in Baseball Digest found that the Braves have fallen sharply in prestige, this team that thrived so handsomely for 14 seasons. In the division of five NL East teams, it is predicted they will finish ahead of one — the Washington Nationals, whose plight will surely revive the old term “lowly” this season. That means, behind the Mets, the Phillies and the Marlins, the Braves and Nationals bring up the rear. Bad company to keep, but they can renew an old acquaintance, Stan Kasten.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Services »
Comments
By Gene
March 20, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
I just spent four days in Lake Buena Vista and liked what I saw—particularly those young, fast guys like Willie Harris and Brandon Jones. The pitchers looked particularly good. McCaan hit one ball, not over the fence, but out of the park. What I didn’t see was Chipper Jones. Not even in the dugout, and the team seems to be doing ok without him.
By ajcisjackasses
March 21, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this
So you mean to tell me that you actually think that the braves will finish behind the marlins who have dontrelle willis miguel cabrera and…….? ha the mets need to fix their rotation and even though i hate to admit it i think they will before the deadline and the phillies are also a good team and as far as losing prestige ha the only other team with as much as or more prestige would be the yankees.
By Jerry
March 21, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
NY, Phil, and Fla all have major holes. NY has serious starting pitching issues. Phil has issues in their pen and so does Fla. Atl does not have any glaring holes. If we had the arms we have this year in the pen last year, we would have made the playoffs or even won the division.
By Kevin
March 21, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this
I don’t know the stats for Baseball Digest, but as with most publications that are supposed to be experts in their fields, and try to pick pre-season favorites, they end up over 90% incorrect,
By Mark
March 21, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this
“Then I checked the latest season projections, and in Baseball Digest found that the Braves have fallen sharply in prestige, this team that thrived so handsomely for 14 seasons.”
Since when in the past 5 years, have the Braves been ‘up’ in prestige in the opinions of those genious pre-season pundets.
By Me
March 21, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this
Who cares what Baseball Digest says? The 162 game season is the great leveler. Time will tell.